Let’s be honest: for many of us, cooking at home requires a complete lifestyle change. Alex and I like to talk about how simple cooking at home is — and it is, truly. A few basic skills like chopping an onion and mincing garlic can go a long way. But for those of us who didn’t grow up cooking (like me!), the hardest part is the lifestyle change. Nourishing food doesn’t just jump onto your plate. You have to get it there. You have to make the time to find it, store it, and cook it. You, and only you, must make the time to orient your life around cooking fresh food. Alex and I learned this the hard way, with years of over-processed and under-delicious foods. So you might be surprised to see me now, making this vegetable & gnocchi Italian soup.
How to make Italian soup
The act of making soup has become so familiar, almost like a dance. Dicing the onion and mincing the garlic now takes me minutes, an activity which once would have taken me half the night. (Plus I would have avoided it altogether because really, who wants to wash a cutting board and knife?). Sautéing the onion, then throwing in the garlic and fresh basil fills the kitchen with a smell reminiscent of an Italian pizza kitchen. The pot sizzles when I pour in the broth for the Italian vegetable soup and add the tomatoes and veggies. Then it cheerfully bubbles at simmer until it smells too good not to taste, when I stir in the gnocchi and spinach. When the gnocchi float and the spinach turns a lovely, bright green color, I know the soup is ready. And the flavor of this Italian soup? Homey, comforting, and heart-meltingly good. It’s taken years, but this is what keeps us going. The fact that in just over 30 minutes we can create something that nourishes our bodies, satisfies our palates, and brings us closer to the people we love is ultimately one of the more rewarding things I’ve ever learned. This Italian soup is naturally so flavorful you can stay vegan / dairy-free by choosing to omit Parmesan cheese, and it still tastes great! The soup can be made in about 30 minutes, which makes it perfect for an easy weeknight meal.
Fresh food matters
We created this Italian soup recipe, which is our trick for the most delicious way to eat loads of fresh veggies, for Sub-Zero and their Fresh Food Matters initiative. It’s a movement that we wish we thought of ourselves, because it is so much of the heart behind what we do, too. I love this quote from Sub-Zero: “We believe that fresh food can make a positive difference in your life. Fresh Food Matters is about inspiring people to think about their own relationship with fresh food and learn how they can incorporate it into every day.” Fist bump to that! Head to Fresh Food Matters to learn more about this initiative.
Listen to us: the A Couple Cooks Podcast
Even better, Sub-Zero is partnering with Katie Stagliano of Katie’s Krops, a 17-year-old who started a non-profit to end hunger by growing fresh food. We chatted with her a few days ago, and this girl is amazing! Want to listen? Here’s Katie’s episode: A Couple Cooks Podcast Episode 18: From Garden to Table! More about the Fresh Food Matters campaign is at FreshFoodMatters.com, including interviews with 13 notable experts who share the impact food has in their lives, in addition to some practical tips for how to purchase and store fresh food from season to season.
Looking for more healthy and easy soup recipes?
Outside of this Italian soup, here are a few of our favorite delicious healthy and easy soup recipes:
Instant Pot Wild Rice Soup RecipeCauliflower Soup with Moroccan Spices Vegetarian Chili (with vegan cashew cheese)Cozy Farro & Brussels Sprouts SoupCreamy Coconut Curry Pantry SoupTomato Sage Chickpea SoupRed Lentil SoupCreamy Vegan Tomato SoupTuscan Soup with White BeansTomato Artichoke Lentil Stew
This recipe is…
This Italian soup recipe is vegetarian. For gluten-free, use gluten-free gnocchi. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, omit the Parmesan cheese garnish. 5 from 8 reviews
