Ingredients
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 6 carrots, diced
- 4 celery stalks, sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 5 cups baby spinach
- ½ cup fresh basil, for garnish
Seasonings and Flavorings
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon pepper, plus more to taste
- Juice of ½ a lemon
Liquids and Broth
- 5 cups water
- 3 vegetable bouillon cubes
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes in their juices, divided
Protein and Main Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) package firm tofu
- 2 (16-ounce) packages potato gnocchi
Instructions
- Sauté the Aromatics: In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Add Carrots and Celery: Stir in the diced carrots and sliced celery and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes until they begin to soften but still retain some bite.
- Add Seasonings and Garlic: Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, nutritional yeast, salt, and pepper. Stir quickly to coat the vegetables evenly and cook for about 10 seconds to release the aromatics.
- Add Water and Bouillon: Pour in the water and add the vegetable bouillon cubes. Cover the pot with a lid and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Blend the Tofu Mixture: While waiting for the soup to boil, combine the firm tofu, juice of half a lemon, and half of the canned diced tomatoes in a blender. Blend until completely smooth and creamy to create a rich, velvety base.
- Incorporate Tofu and Tomatoes: Once the soup reaches a boil, reduce the heat slightly and stir in the tofu mixture along with the remaining diced tomatoes. This will thicken and enrich the broth.
- Cook the Gnocchi: Add the potato gnocchi to the pot and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the gnocchi are soft and tender but not mushy.
- Wilt the Spinach: Turn off the heat, then stir in the baby spinach. Cover the pot for about 5 minutes to allow the spinach to wilt gently without overcooking.
- Season to Taste: Taste the soup and adjust the lemon juice, salt, and pepper as needed to brighten and balance the flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving warm.
Notes
- Don’t overcook the gnocchi to avoid mushy texture; cooking it separately from the soup before adding can help maintain its firmness.
- Adjust the consistency of the soup by varying the amount of broth and tofu or vegan cream according to preference.
- Taste and adjust seasonings like lemon juice and salt toward the end for best flavor balance.
- Make extra for leftovers; the flavors deepen and improve after resting, especially the next day.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegan