Sausage Gnocchi Soup

 A very hardy soup and so good.  Use it with regular or spicy sausage depending on if you like spice or not.  

SAUSAGE GNOCCHI SOUP

(serves 8)

Ingredients:

*1/8 cup olive oil

*1 pound Italian sausage 

*1 teaspoon fennel seeds (Optional.  I only use if I the Italian sausage doesn't have fennel in it).

*1 large leek, chopped

*3 celery stalks, diced

*3 medium carrots, diced

*5-6 garlic cloves, minced

*1/8 cup water

*1 cup dry white wine (or chicken stock)

*8 cups chicken stock

*1 small parmesan rind or 1/8 cup shredded parmesan (optional)

*1 1/2 cups heavy cream

*5 cups baby spinach

*1 pound gnocchi (I make my own)

*1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped (or 1 tablespoon dried)

*1 teaspoon salt

*1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

~Preheat a large stock pot over medium heat.

~Once hot add 1/8 cup olive oil.

~Add 1 pound Italian sausage, chop sausage as it cooks.

~Using a slotted spoon remove Italian sausage and set said.

~Add 3 chopped carrots, 3 chopped celery stalks, 1 chopped leek and 1/8 cup water to hot pan.

~Scrape the bottom of the pan to deglaze it as the veggies cook.

~Cook veggie until they are soft about 10-15 minutes, stirring often.

~Add 1 teaspoon fennel seeds and stir (optional).

~Add garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously.

~Turn heat up to high and add 1 cup dry white wine, and cook until liquid is reduced to half, stirring continuously.

~Add sausage, 8 cups chicken stock and parmesan rind and bring to a boil.

~Once boiling, reduce heat to simmer and add 1 1/2 cups heavy cream.

~Cook for another 10-15 minutes, stirring often.

~Add 5 cups baby spinach and 1 pound gnocchi, cook until spinach is wilted and gnocchi floats (about 2-3 minutes).

~Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, and 1/4 cup fresh chopped basil leaves.