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Chicken & Spinach Soup with Fresh Pesto

:  September/October 2009

Your rating: None Average: 4.3 (337 votes)

This fragrant, Italian-flavored soup takes advantage of quick-cooking ingredients—boneless, skinless chicken breast, bagged baby spinach and canned beans. It features a simple homemade basil pesto swirled in at the end to add a fresh herb flavor. If you are very pressed for time, you can substitute 3 to 4 tablespoons of a store-bought basil pesto.


READER'S COMMENT:
"OMG. This is the first Recipe that I've tried from this Website and I have to say it's absolutely amazing! My family just loved this dish and the flavor and taste was awsome! I will be making this dish more often this winter! "
Chicken & Spinach Soup with Fresh Pesto Recipe

Makes: 5 servings, about 1 1/2 cups each

Active Time:

Total Time:

Nutrition Profile

Diabetes appropriate | Low calorie | Low carbohydrate | Low cholesterol | Low saturated fat | Healthy weight | Heart healthy | High fiber | High potassium |

View Our Nutrition Guidelines »

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1/2 cup carrot or diced red bell pepper
  • 1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 8 ounces), cut into quarters
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced
  • 5 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried marjoram
  • 6 ounces baby spinach, coarsely chopped
  • 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans or great northern beans, rinsed
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/3 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 3/4 cup plain or herbed multigrain croutons for garnish (optional)

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Preparation

  1. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add carrot (or bell pepper) and chicken; cook, turning the chicken and stirring frequently, until the chicken begins to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute more. Stir in broth and marjoram; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes.
  2. With a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken pieces to a clean cutting board to cool. Add spinach and beans to the pot and bring to a gentle boil. Cook for 5 minutes to blend the flavors.
  3. Combine the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, Parmesan and basil in a food processor (a mini processor works well). Process until a coarse paste forms, adding a little water and scraping down the sides as necessary.
  4. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. Stir the chicken and pesto into the pot. Season with pepper. Heat until hot. Garnish with croutons, if desired.

Nutrition

Per serving: 204 calories; 8 g fat ( 2 g sat , 4 g mono ); 29 mg cholesterol; 16 g carbohydrates; 18 g protein; 6 g fiber; 691 mg sodium; 529 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (110% daily value), Folate & Vitamin C (20% dv).

Carbohydrate Servings: 1/2

Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 vegetable, 2 lean meat, 1 fat


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Recipe Categories

Style/Theme
Quick (total 30 min. or less)
Budget
Comfort foods
Entertaining, casual
Everyday favorites
Type of Dish
Main dish, poultry
Soups/stews
Ease of Preparation
Easy
Ethnic/Regional
American
Main Ingredient
Beans/Legumes
Chicken
Health & Diet Considerations
Diabetes appropriate
Low calorie
Low carbohydrate
Low cholesterol
Low saturated fat
Heart healthy
Healthy weight
High fiber
High potassium
Preparation/ Technique
Saute
Meal/Course
Dinner

Season
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
Publication
September/October 2009
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