Skinny Rustic Italian Gnocchi Soup
New year. New recipes. Healthier me. At least that is the idea anyway. As the last few days of 2014 slowly passed me by, I found myself at a crossroads. It wasn’t pretty. I knew I had to make some changes in life, so I collected myself and started to chip away at the things that I needed to do in order to create a new path. One of the things I need to chip away at is my weight. Carrying this extra weight around isn’t doing me (or those around me) any good. I considered going back to Weight Watchers as I am a Lifetime member and would love to be another success story. Problem is, the weather is going to turn to crap at some point. I have been fortunate that my area hasn’t seen but a few flurries here and there. I know I won’t go to meetings. I tried a few years ago and once it got cold, I stopped getting up to go in the mornings. I tried the online program a few times and would just not log my food. I’m a little old-fashioned. I lost my weight with WW so long ago, they didn’t even have etools!
This time around I am making small changes. I feel that if I try to do it all at once, I’ll get overwhelmed and quit before I am even ahead. I tried going back to writing down what I eat, then I forget. I have tried MyFitnessPal for years. I log when I think about it. I know something here needs to change and that is what I am going to work on. I have gathered all my Weight Watchers materials, my healthier cookbooks and started to seek out some inspiration. Then, something landed on my doorstep.
How many of you have heard of Gina and her SkinnyTaste blog? I bet you have seen some of her amazing stuff on Pinterest and didn’t even know it was her. On one of my multiple attempts to restart Weight Watchers there weren’t hardly any recipe blogs. That’s why she created the site. When I did Weight Watchers the only person we would talk about is Lisa Lillian, AKA Hungry Girl (and wow! has she come a long way since then.) Well, I am a huge fan of SkinnyTaste and have tried a few of her recipes over the years. My most recent was the Skinny Pot Pie Soup. In recent years she advocates more for healthy eating and everything in moderation, but she still gives credit to the program that put her on the healthy path.
Talk about some serious nomage. #nomnom
Ok. Ok. Enough about WW. What does this have to do with SkinnyTaste? Well, I am sooooooooooo excited that the publishers just adore YUM eating so much (Ok, maybe that is a stretch, but it sounded good.) The publishers sent me a copy of Gina’s first cookbook with over 125 brand new SkinnyTaste recipes.
This cookbook is gorgeous y’all. I mean, I have a ton of cookbooks. I hate ones that don’t have photos, with the exception of the really old ones that were my grandmother’s and mothers. I am not a fan of cookbooks that don’t have pizzazz and zip to them. When I sit down to look at a cookbook I treat it as if it were a best-selling novel. I want to feel what the creator is feeling. I want photos that make my mouth water. I want stories and tips that go along with the recipes. I don’t want your same old boring basic cookie cutter copy paste cookbook.
The SkinnyTaste Cookbook took my breath away. Gina Homolka nailed it. The photos are large, the pages are thick, and the hardcover is solid. Much like a photograph coffee table book. Only, with recipes. She also sprinkles tips and tricks throughout the book, along with stories. Perfect.
Here is where I am supposed to give some sort of disclaimer about the book. Yes, I got it for free. I wasn’t required to write a review here on YUM eating. I was only required to write a review for the publisher. I didn’t have to create any recipes from the book. But, I did. I made a few already and have some more I want to try. I mean, how could I not?
So, now that I have gushed on and on and on (hey, is this my longest post to date?) – let me tell you about this gnocchi soup.
This isn’t your typical I’m-going-to-be-starving-in-20-minutes broth based soup. This soup is warm and inviting. It’s really easy to make and it’s quite filling. Now, I know gnocchi doesn’t really seem like its super healthy. And, it’s not. When you eat it as your main meal. But, because we are pairing it with chicken sausage and vegetables you are going to get more bang for your buck.
Per usual, I didn’t make my recipe exactly like hers but her Rustic Italian Gnocchi Soup, which you can find on page 70 of the cookbook. It’s not available on her website. Sorry folks.
I don’t follow directions well and that is ok. My soup turned out really well and I am happy about it.
A few notes, my store did not have “Italian” chicken sausage links. I am not sure what flavor they were but they were seasoned. It was the only kind they had. They also did not have removable casings, so while Gina’s recipe called for just the insides of the sausage, I sliced up our links.
You can use raw red bell peppers. I had a jar of roasted red peppers on hand, so I used those instead to keep our expense down. Got to stick to that grocery budget!
Be sure to keep your cheese wrapped tightly. Hard cheeses last a lot longer but you won’t be happy if you see moldy cheese!
In her recipe she made a slurry and set it aside and did not add until later. I made the slurry first and just added it to the pot. Worked fine.
Skinny Rustic Italian Gnocchi Soup
Ingredients
- 3 TBSP flour
- 1 cup cold water divided in half
- 1 package Chicken Sausage links; sliced 1 pack has about 5-6 links
- 5 cups homemade chicken stock or you can use the canned version, try to use low sodium
- 1 cup fat free milk
- 1 small onion chopped
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 2 carrots pealed and sliced
- 4 garlic gloves minced
- 1 TBSP of grated rind from Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- 1 jar of roasted red peppers drained and lightly rinsed
- 1/2 tsp pepper and more as you'll add more as you go
- 1 - 16 oz. package of Gnocchi
- 3 cups raw spinach chopped
- 2 TBSP fresh basil chopped
- Optional - freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese for topping the soup
Instructions
- Using a dutch oven you are going to create a slurry using the flour and 1/2 cup water.
- Pour them into your dutch oven (or large stockpot) and which the two together on low heat.
- Continue whisking until your flour becomes just a tad darker in color. We are not trying to make a rue.
- Add 1/2 cup water, chicken stock, and milk to the dutch oven.
- Slowly bring to a boil.
- While you are waiting for that to boil you can start cooking the chicken sausage.
- Put the chicken sausage in a pan and begin to cook on medium heat.
- Cook until slightly browned on both sides, about 4 minutes and then set aside.
- Once your dutch oven mixture starts to boil, reduce heat, add the onion, celery, carrots, garlic, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese rind, roasted peppers and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Continue to stir.
- Turn the heat back up and return to a boil.
- Partially cover the pot once the soup boils and reduce heat to low.
- Allow soup to simmer until vegetables are soft, about 15 minutes.
- Continue to stir.
- Once your vegetables are tender add the chicken sausage, gnocchi, spinach and basil.
- Continue cooking until the gnocchi floats to the top. They'll become fluffy and your soup with start to thicken.
- Season with more black pepper to taste.
- Once gnocchi has floated to the top, you're ready to serve.
- Using a large spoon or ladle, place soup into bowl and garnish with grated cheese.
The Italian in me loves you. This sounds so good. I love it.
We made it again yesterday. I have leftovers. Bring the boys and come on over 😉
Gnocchi is definitely an Italian food I can never get enough of! I would eat this soup all the time!
I would really love to try this soup! It sounds like a yummy recipe for the entire family.
I just pinned several Skinny Taste recipes over the weekend. I’m doing WW again (I was Lifetime forever ago.) The eTools are helping a lot this time. And recipes outside of WW (like with Skinny Taste) are helping tremendously.
You should get your hands on her cookbook. It is worth every penny. I was thinking about joining again now that they have the counseling and chat aspect to etools. I think that would really help me.
Thanks for sharing this great recipe! Healthy eating can get so boring. I need something like this to help me stay on track!
This is something I would be happy to eat everyday.I also love chicken sausages.
Ooohh now this sounds like something interesting to try and perfect for the time of year !x
I’ve never had any kind of Gnocchi Soup, but this looks SO good! Especially for these colder days!
That looks SO good! It’s the perfect dish for these dismally cold Rhode Island winters.
This soup sounds so good! Especially right now when it’s FREEZING outside. I could plop down and cover up with a big bowl of this for dinner tonight!
I have not heard of her, but i am on a weight loss journey.. so far so good.. so any extra skinny recipes will work for me.. checking her out now.
I love everything about this recipe. I definitely need to try this, especailly since I’ve started eating healthy…today!
I love soup! I also love soup with the word Skinny in it. I could eat it up and know it’s okay.
Skinny is my word of the month 😉 Maybe year.
Thank you! What fun – I used to be a professional cook and learned to make soup from scratch – so I still love homemade soup and I have saved your shared recipe – will be trying it next week! YAY
I hope you like it Donna!
that sound looks amazing! I love a good Italian soup 😉
This soup sounds so delicious! I love when soups have chunky vegetables like that in it. I must make this.
Mmmm! This looks soo good! I will have to try it out! Thanks for sharing!
Sounds good to me! Perfect for a cold winters dinner!!
I’m not a big soup person, but this looks good. I like the chunky type.
I love all of the ingredients in this. This is a great recipe for me to have for eating healthy in 2015.
That looks really interested. I would love to try this. I have never had gnocchi.
This looks really yummy. I have never had Gnocchi, but I would like to try it.
Am I interested? I don’t think there has been one single recipe that you’ve posted that I haven’t wanted to try! This looks incredible! I know for a fact my whole family would love this!
Okay, I’m normally not too much of a soup fan. But I think this soup might just change that for me! It looks perfect for a dreary winter day.
That looks delicious and perfect for a cold winter’s night. I love gnocchi!
I learned to make gnocchi from watching cartoons with Hail. There is a little segment on Disney Jr. called so easy your laughing with Helen Cavalo (or something like that) and she made some on there. It’s sooooo good!
I am like you, I do not follow directions all the time either, especially with soups. This looks amazing.
I love Skinnytaste. I follow her on IG and drool over the pics.
I am going to be trying a new diet this year and am always looking for new recipes that are low cal. This sounds good!
Stefany, I wish you luck! You can do it!
This definitely does not look “skinny” but those are my favorite kinds.. The ones with full flavor, but on a skinnier version
Great minds think alike!
That soup looks great. I haven’t had gnocchi in a while.
This soup has some hearty ingredients. It’s perfect for warming up on a cold, winter night.
That soup would really hit the spot here. So chilly!
That looks fabulous. I could get into that.
This sounds so good! A perfect meal to warm up to on a cold winter night!
Wow!! This looks so light yet savory! I can see myself making this on a Sunday evening.
What’s not to love about gnocchi? So yummy! I crave for these all the time!
I love gnocchi so much, this soup looks very yummy and I know I’d love a nice big hot bowl of it!
Firstly, I think it is great you are taking it slow and steady with weight loss, rather than making all of the changes at once. This soup does sound delicious, and would be perfect for these cold winter days!
Thank you Samantha. I think it makes it easier on the family too. We sample some new recipes and if we like them, add them to the rotation. So far, so good.
I would love to try this recipe. I am always on the look out for good cookbooks and this sounds like one I’d like. Thanks for sharing..
Using gnocchi in a soup is a great idea. It fills that satisfaction zone that soups sometimes lack as a meal.
I love, love, love soup and if you can make it healthier that is even better. This is a great winter soup and something I know my parents would love too.
This sounds delicious. Yum. Perfect for a snow day!
Oh my goodness, this looks so good! I might just have to have the hubs stop at the store for a few ingredients on his way home from work. 🙂
Yum – gnocchi is one of my favorite types of pasta. I come from an Italian family and we LOVE our pasta!
Gnocchi makes me happy. I bet Gnocchi Soup would be so wonderful, especially now that we’ve got snow and it’s cold outside.
This sounds like a delicious soup! I’ve only had one soup with Gnocchi in it, but have never made a soup myself. I would love to try making this sometime.
That looks really good. I love Italian soups and I love that this is healthy. Perfect with a salad and a glass of wine!
This soup sounds so good and with the freezing winter I bet this would be so yummy!
I could literally eat soup every day! Making this soon!
I hope you enjoy it Angie!
I don’t follow recipes well either! I am terrible. I’ve never tried gnocchi but I think I should! Delicious!
You really should give it a go Sara!
I’ve never tried gnocci soup, but now I’d like to! Looks yummy!
I didn’t know anything about Italian Gnocchi until now. It looks like a delicious soup for these cold winter month’s ahead.
Now that looks like a very nice soup that will fill you up, oh i do love a good soup, especially when it’s cold out!
Me, too! #nomnom
Your soup looks delicious. I pinned it to my soup board. Winter in Wisconsin – we eat soup at least twice a week
I do hope you enjoy it!
What a great soup recipe. I can always use a great soup recipe.
Soups are a must this time of year at our house.
omg that looks amazing! I’m going to have to try this recipe this week.
Oh my this rustic Italian gnocchi soup looks delish. I’m always looking for new comfort foods to make in the winter. I love that this is a “skinny” version, too!
This looks yummy – and hearty too! A great winter time meal.
This sounds amazing. Thanks for the recipe, I am going to try it soon.
Soups are the perfect winter food. This one looks especially yummy. Its getting colder here again this weekend. I think I’ll make it then.
Looks like quite a yummy thing to eat – I want to give this a try one of these days.
That is one of my favorite soups, I love it. I love creating soups that are healthy for me and my family!
I have never had it before and it does look amazing. I might just have to make this for my husband and see what he thinks.
Nom nom! This looks amazing! I’ve been looking for some new soup recipes to make!
I totally understand you wanting to make small changes, verses huge changes. Smaller changes are easier to keep and in turn you don’t feel like you have failed. Your gnocchi looks delicious.
Wait! There’s something wrong with the words “skinny” and “gnocchi” appearing in the same sentence! This looks really good. I might just need to get this cookbook!
Sounds amazing! Rich, soothing and smooth.
Sounds delicious – I might use some cream and shorten the milk a little bit for flavor.