Italian-Type Lettuce Soup | Easy Nourished Residing

In case you’ve by no means thought to make soup with lettuce, this recipe would possibly simply change your thoughts.

This Italian-Type Lettuce Soup is a type of quietly fantastic recipes that has been in my rotation for years. It comes from the WeightWatchers Merely the Finest Cookbook: 250 Prize-Successful Household Recipes, printed again in 1999—and it has completely stood the check of time.

It’s mild, brothy, and surprisingly satisfying. Consider it as a simplified, on a regular basis model of the Italian basic escarole soup—humble substances, huge consolation.

A Basic That’s Stood the Check of Time

I first made this soup many years in the past from a well-worn WW cookbook, and I’m nonetheless making it right this moment. There’s one thing so satisfying a couple of recipe that straightforward that lasts that lengthy.

It’s basically a handful of recent greens simmered in a lightweight, flavorful broth—with a sprinkle of parmesan on prime that ties every part collectively. The lettuce wilts superbly into the soup, turning silky and tender in only a few minutes. In case you’ve solely ever eaten lettuce uncooked in salads, the feel right here will genuinely shock you.

I adore it by itself as a lightweight lunch or first course. However on nights once I need one thing heartier, I’ll stir in a cup of leftover rice or some shredded cooked rooster. It transforms into a very totally different meal—nonetheless easy, nonetheless mild, however far more filling.

It’s the sort of meals I discover myself craving extra with each passing yr. Nothing fancy, nothing difficult. Simply good, easy meals.

Why You’ll Love This Lettuce Soup

• Prepared in quarter-hour — one of many quickest soups you’ll ever make.
• Only a handful of substances — celery, scallions, lettuce, broth, parsley, and parmesan.
• Mild however satisfying — solely 83 energy per serving.
• Endlessly versatile — add rice, rooster, or beans to make it heartier.
• WW-friendly — low in factors and simple to suit into any plan.

Elements and Substitutions

• Olive oil — Simply sufficient to melt the greens with out including a whole lot of fats. Any impartial oil will work right here.
• Celery — Provides a light savory base. You may substitute fennel for a barely extra Italian taste.
• Scallions — Milder than onion, which retains the soup mild and delicate. A small yellow onion, diced, works as an alternative.
• Inexperienced leaf lettuce — The star of the soup. I’ve additionally made this with romaine and iceberg with nice outcomes — each work superbly. You possibly can additionally use escarole or spinach for a better approximation of the Italian basic.
• Low-sodium vegetable or rooster broth — I take advantage of whichever I’ve available. Vegetable broth (affiliate hyperlink) retains it vegetarian; rooster broth provides a bit extra depth.
• Recent parsley — Provides brightness and a recent, herby word. Flat-leaf parsley is my choice, however curly parsley works too.
• Freshly floor black pepper — Retains it easy. Add extra to style.
• Parmesan cheese — Sprinkled on at serving, it provides a salty, savory end that actually makes the soup. Somewhat goes a great distance right here.

Wish to make it heartier? Stir in 1 cup of cooked rice or shredded cooked rooster simply earlier than serving.

Energy and WW Factors

In line with my calculations, every serving has roughly 83 energy and and a couple of WW Factors (for the bottom soup with out rice or rooster).

To see your WW Factors, observe this recipe within the WW App.
(You have to be logged in on a smartphone or pill.)

How you can Make Italian-Type Lettuce Soup

1. In a big nonstick saucepan or Dutch oven set over medium warmth, heat the olive oil.
2. Add the celery and scallions. Prepare dinner, stirring typically, till softened—about 5 minutes.
3. Add the lettuce, broth, parsley, pepper, and 1 cup of water. Stir to mix.
4. Convey to a boil, then scale back the warmth and simmer, stirring sometimes, till the lettuce is wilted—about 5 minutes extra.
5. Ladle into bowls and serve sprinkled with the parmesan cheese.

In case you’ve made this Italian-Type Lettuce Soup, please give the recipe a star score beneath and depart a remark—I really like listening to the way it turned out for you! And keep in contact on Pinterest, Fb, Instagram, and Twitter for the newest updates.

FAQs

Can I take advantage of a special sort of lettuce?
Completely. Romaine and iceberg each work nicely and maintain up properly within the broth. For a extra conventional Italian taste, strive escarole—it’s the basic alternative in Italian wedding-style soups. Spinach is one other nice possibility.

Can I make this soup heartier?
Sure, and I extremely suggest it. Stir in a cup of leftover cooked rice or shredded rooster simply earlier than serving. White beans or small pasta like orzo would even be scrumptious additions.

Is that this soup vegetarian?
It may be. Simply use low-sodium vegetable broth (affiliate hyperlink) as a substitute of rooster broth, and it’s utterly vegetarian. It’s naturally gluten-free as nicely.

Can I make it forward of time?
The soup is finest loved recent, for the reason that lettuce will proceed to melt because it sits. That stated, it reheats nicely the following day—the feel simply turns into a bit silkier, which many individuals take pleasure in.

Can I freeze it?
I’d skip freezing this one. The lettuce doesn’t maintain up nicely after thawing. It’s so fast to make that it’s higher to organize it recent.

Extra WW-Pleasant Soup and Dinner Concepts