Olive Garden Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

Here we have yet another copycat recipe where I have no clue if it tastes anything like the original.  What else is new!?  One of these days I'll have to make a copycat recipe where I actually have tried what I'm copying.

Whether or not this soup tastes like the original matters not one bit to me.  All I know and all that matters is that we loved it.  It's creamy and comforting and incredibly delicious.  Half-and-half, chicken, fresh veggies, and gnocchi.  Perfection!

I used a rotisserie chicken so had more than 1 cup of chicken.  I highly recommend using more than the 1 cup of chicken the recipe calls for (whether or not you use a rotisserie chicken).  Whatever amount of chicken I got from that rotisserie chicken was perfect.  Also, next time I'll add more fresh spinach.  I just loved the spinach in this soup.  I also recommend using the half-and-half, as the recipe states, instead of milk.  I think this soup probably does taste better creamy.  And last but not least, definitely add the Parmesan cheese.  It's optional but it adds so much flavour.

This soup is just wonderful.  Perfect for the cold winter months ahead.

Enjoy!

Olive Garden Chicken and Gnocchi Soup
Printer-Friendly Version

4 T butter
1 T extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup onion, finely diced
1/2 cup celery, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 T flour
1 quart/litre half and half
1 cup carrots, finely shredded
1 cup chicken breasts cooked and diced (you can use a rotisserie chicken)
1 14-ounce can chicken broth
1 pound potato gnocchi
1 cup fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. parsley
Freshly grated parmesan cheese – optional

Sauté the onion, celery, and garlic in the butter and olive oil over medium heat.  When the onion becomes translucent, add the flour, and make a roux.  Let the butter and flour mixture cook for about a minute before adding 1 quart of half and half.

Cook gnocchi according to package directions.

Into the roux add the carrots and chicken. Once the mixture becomes thick add the chicken broth. Once the mixture thickens again, add the cooked gnocchi, spinach, and seasonings.  Simmer until soup is heated through.

Makes 8 servings.

Source:  Copykat