The Clever Shortcut to the Best Ever Dumpling Soup

It’s crowd-pleasing and a breeze to whip up with this one pantry staple.

By
Julie & Amy Luxemberg
Vibing Vegans
Julie & Amy Luxemberg
Sisters Julie & Amy Luxemberg are self-taught vegan chefs, recipe developers, and content creators.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published October 09, 2023
Vibing Vegans
Bowl of creamy vegetable dumpling soup with a spoon, and in the surroundings, a plate of salad, a glass of water, and dinner rolls on a grey and black kitchen towel

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Soup is beloved in our Italian family. From cure-all pastina soup to classic Italian wedding soup to our grandma’s legendary Christmas soup brimming with escarole, each bowl provides comfort and a touch of nostalgia. To us, soup really does soothe the soul.

Creamy vegetable dumpling soup was born from a simple idea—to swap the usual pasta with dumplings and take a clever shortcut along the way. Prepared potato gnocchi stands in for homemade dumplings, and cooking them directly in the broth infuses them with flavor. 

The end result is so easy, delicious, and satisfying that it has become a staple for us. With Italian seasoning, a touch of creamy coconut milk, a hint of lemon juice, and fresh parsley, this soup provides soul-soothing comfort with minimal effort.

Bowl of creamy vegetable dumpling soup, and in surroundings, two spoons on the counter, another serving in a bowl, a small bowl of crushed peppers, a bowl of shredded parmesan, and a grey and black kitchen linen

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

What Kind of Gnocchi To Use

After experimenting with a few different types of gnocchi, our favorite is classic potato gnocchi, which we pick up at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. Look for it in shelf-stable packages in the pasta aisle.

We also enjoy using Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi for a gluten-free option. Since it’s cooked from frozen, it takes a few more minutes for the soup to boil and the gnocchi to cook compared to shelf-stable gnocchi. The cauliflower gnocchi are larger and chewier in the soup, not that we’re complaining.

Any gnocchi works well in this soup—just follow the “boil” cooking instructions from the back of the gnocchi package and adjust the cook time accordingly. Everything else about the method will remain the same.

Easy Recipe Variations

Another reason we keep this soup on rotation is its incredible versatility. You can easily customize it to suit your flavor preferences and what you happen to have on hand. We love adding spinach or kale, soy curls, and any fresh herbs we can find. 

Some other welcome additions:

  • Spinach, kale, or escarole
  • Shredded rotisserie chicken
  • Cooked, crumbed sausage
  • Drained chickpeas or cannellini beans
  • Frozen vegetables like broccoli or peas

You can also switch up the dried spices and incorporate dried rosemary, sage, and Italian seasonings instead of (or in addition to) the dried thyme and oregano in the recipe.

Ladle full of creamy vegetable dumpling soup lifted from a Dutch oven with more, and on the counter surroundings the pot, a bowl of crushed peppers, a bowl of shredded parmesan, and a grey and black kitchent towel

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Easy, Comforting Soups

Creamy Vegetable Dumpling Soup

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Servings 4 to 6 servings

If you’re using Better than Bouillon paste, follow the package instructions of 1 teaspoon per cup of water and then add 1 additional teaspoon (7 teaspoons total).

For frozen gnocchi, follow the same method. The soup will take a few extra minutes to reach a boil and the cook time for the gnocchi may be longer.

If you’re using Trader Joe’s Cauliflower gnocchi, use 1 1/2 (12-ounce) bags.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 small white onion

  • 3 stalks celery

  • 3 medium carrots

  • 3 cloves garlic

  • 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 6 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth

  • 1 cup full-fat coconut milk

  • 16 ounces potato gnocchi

  • 1/2 lemon, juiced

  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

  • Salt, to taste

Optional for serving

Method

  1. Chop the vegetables and heat the oil:

    Chop the onion, celery, and carrots. You should have about a cup each of chopped onion and carrots and 1 1/2 cups chopped celery. Mince the garlic and set it aside.

    Place a 4-quart pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add the olive oil.

    Chopped stock vegetables (onions, carrots, and celery) on a wooden board

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
    Chopped stock vegetables in Dutch oven for creamy vegetable dumpling soup recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
  2. Sauté the vegetables:

    Once the olive oil is shimmering, add the onion, celery, and carrot and cook until the onion is just translucent, about 4 minutes. Lower the heat to medium and add the garlic, pepper, thyme, and oregano. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is fragrant and the vegetables begin to soften, 4 to 5 minutes.

    Cooked and seasoned stock vegetables in a Dutch oven for creamy vegetable dumpling soup recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
  3. Add the liquid and bring to a boil:

    Add the vegetable broth and coconut milk. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the soup to a boil—this should take 5 to 6 minutes.

    Broth and coconut milk stirred into the Dutch oven with seasoned stock vegetables for creamy vegetable dumpling soup recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
  4. Cook the gnocchi:

    Add the gnocchi and bring the mixture back to a boil. Cook according to the package directions, 2 to 3 minutes for shelf-stable potato gnocchi, or until the gnocchis begin to float to the top.

    Gnocchi added the soup base in the Dutch oven for creamy vegetable dumpling soup recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
  5. Season and serve:

    Remove the soup from the heat and add the lemon juice and chopped parsley. Taste, adding salt to taste. Enjoy immediately with red chili flakes and grated Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast, if desired.

    Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in a pot on medium-low heat until the soup is warm.

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

    Bowl of creamy vegetable dumpling soup with a spoon, and in the surroundings, a plate of salad, a glass of water, a small bowl of rushed peppers, and dinner rolls on a grey and black kitchen towel

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
288 Calories
11g Fat
42g Carbs
7g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 288
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 15%
Saturated Fat 8g 39%
Cholesterol 22mg 7%
Sodium 299mg 13%
Total Carbohydrate 42g 15%
Dietary Fiber 4g 13%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 22mg 109%
Calcium 65mg 5%
Iron 4mg 20%
Potassium 573mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.