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Guess who's back with another Trader Joe's hack! Like I said- I will never cease to fall off the cauliflower everything wagon. Especially when there are so many amazing alternatives. Even though soup season is almost over, I can't help myself. This soup recipe is basically dump and go. It requires literally zero prep work and comes together very quickly- it is SO EASY. The cauliflower gnocchi mimics the soft, pillowy texture of dumplings so well that you'd never know they were 75% cauliflower! This recipe is allergy friendly, paleo and Whole 30 approved, wheat-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free!! &You do not need to be trying to eat healthier to enjoy this soup though- just ask my husband who had 3 bowls of it!
Ingredients
1 package of Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi (found in the freezer section)
1 package of pre-chopped Mirepoix (carrot, onion, and celery)
1-2 32 oz carton of chicken stock
1.5 lbs skinless, boneless chicken thighs OR Rotisserie Chicken- shredded
2 cups of spinach
3 bay leaves
Salt & Pepper
Oil
Lemon (optional- but worth it)
Let's talk Cauliflower Gnocchi
Cauliflower Gnocchi packs a very powerful punch. There's almost an art form in cooking these on their own so the beauty of this recipe where you can just dump them into the broth is a small miracle. These babies only contain FOUR ingredients! Cauliflower, Cassava Flour, Potato Starch, and salt! THAT'S IT!
We all know what cauliflower is, right? I don't think I need to go into too much detail about what it is- however, each of these pillowy deliciousness contains 75% cauliflower!
Cassava Flour is made from the root of a cassava plant (aka yuca). It is one of the best grain-free, gluten-free, nut-free alternative flours on the market! Cassava flour can usually be swapped out at a 1:1 ratio for regular wheat flour! It's a great alternative for people like me whose stomachs don't always agree with wheat-based food!
Potato starch is just that- a starch that's been extracted from a potato. It can be used similarly to cornstarch for thickening. It doesn't hold a lot of nutritional benefits, it is neutral in flavor and is a great alternative for people who cannot tolerate corn.
Tips for Recipe Success
You can either used uncooked chicken and cook it right in the broth or you can used a precooked shredded rotisserie chicken
TASTE, TASTE, TASTE! taste the broth throughout the process. If it tastes bland, add a bit more salt, stir then taste again. Repeat if necessary. Remember- you can always add more salt. You can never remove it.
The cauliflower gnocchi comes frozen and may be clumped together straight out of the package. Separate the pieces as you are putting them into the broth!
ONE OF MY FAVORITE HACKS! Use your Kitchenaid or hand mixer to shred the chicken! This literally saves about 15 minutes of work. Take the chicken out of the broth, into the bowl, and use the paddle attachment to mix until all chicken is shredded. Then return to the soup!
