Spinach Has Never Looked So Good Than in This Cream of Spinach Soup Recipe (2024)

  • Creamy Soups
  • Healthy Soups
  • Summer Soups
  • Spinach

This fast cream of spinach soup recipe makes it easy to feel green. Use basic pantry ingredients and fresh or frozen spinach to make a vegetable-packed soup you can serve hot or cold.

By

Elise Bauer

Spinach Has Never Looked So Good Than in This Cream of Spinach Soup Recipe (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated April 26, 2022

Spinach Has Never Looked So Good Than in This Cream of Spinach Soup Recipe (2)

18 ratings

Spinach Has Never Looked So Good Than in This Cream of Spinach Soup Recipe (3)

This delicious cream of spinach soup is as rich, smooth, and creamy as the label "Cream of" would imply.

What Is Cream of Spinach Soup?

It's basically a vichyssoise, with spinach in addition to the potatoes, and can be served either hot or chilled.

Spinach Has Never Looked So Good Than in This Cream of Spinach Soup Recipe (4)

Tips for Using Frozen Spinach vs. Fresh Spinach

Baby or mature fresh spinach work in this recipe. Baby spinach is convenient because it's typically sold already cleaned. Mature spinach has more flavor but can be very gritty, so wash it well. For this recipe, you can leave the stems on.

Defrost and drain frozen spinach before adding it to the soup. To defrost, use one of these methods.

  • Put the frozen spinach package in the refrigerator overnight.
  • Leave the frozen spinach package at room temperature for about 5 hours.
  • Defrost in the microwave — removed from the package and in a microwave-safe bowl — on the defrost setting for about 2 minutes.

Squeeze as much liquid as possible out of the defrosted spinach before adding it to the soup in Step 2.

Soup Too Thin? There’s a Fix!

Thickening puréed soup is easy. If your soup is too liquidy for your liking, we have a few techniques that will work for thickening this cream of spinach soup.

How a Clever Cook Thickens Soup (or Stew) and Makes It CreamyREAD MORE:

How to Store and Reheat This Recipe

Refrigerate tightly covered for up to 4 days. Reheat over medium-low heat at a simmer until heated through.

We don't recommend freezing this soup. The texture will change because of the potatoes. Also, the dairy may separate.

More Cream Soup Recipes to Try

  • Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • Cream Of Celeriac Soup with Brussels Sprouts Chips
  • Creamy Sweet Potato Soup
  • Cauliflower Cheddar Soup
  • Parsnip Soup With Leeks

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Cream of Spinach Soup

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time40 mins

Total Time55 mins

Servings6to 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chopped onion

  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • 2 cups chopped fresh spinach, packed, or 1 (10 to 12-ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed

  • 3 medium potatoes (about 1 pound), peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks

  • 1 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth

  • 1 1/2 cups water

  • 2 chicken or vegetable bouillon cubes

  • 2 cups half and half

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 3/4 cup sour cream, plus more for serving, if you like

  • Chopped chives, for garnish

  • 1 pinch ground allspice, for garnish

Method

  1. Sauté the onion:

    In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté onion in butter for 4 minutes or until translucent.

    Spinach Has Never Looked So Good Than in This Cream of Spinach Soup Recipe (5)

  2. Build the soup:

    Add potatoes, chicken broth, water, and bouillon cubes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.

    Add spinach and cook for 2 to 4 minutes longer until spinach is tender.

    Spinach Has Never Looked So Good Than in This Cream of Spinach Soup Recipe (6)

    Spinach Has Never Looked So Good Than in This Cream of Spinach Soup Recipe (7)

  3. Purée the soup and add the half and half:

    Working in batches, purée soup mixture in a blender. Return to saucepan. Whisk in half and half, salt, and pepper.

    Spinach Has Never Looked So Good Than in This Cream of Spinach Soup Recipe (8)

  4. Whisk in the sour cream:

    Over low heat, bring to just before simmering. Whisk in the sour cream. You may want to use an immersion blender to get the sour cream fully incorporated.

    This soup can be served hot or chilled. Garnish with chopped chives, sprinkles of allspice, or a dollop of sour cream.

    Spinach Has Never Looked So Good Than in This Cream of Spinach Soup Recipe (9)

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
156Calories
7g Fat
20g Carbs
4g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6to 8
Amount per serving
Calories156
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g10%
Saturated Fat 4g20%
Cholesterol 21mg7%
Sodium 627mg27%
Total Carbohydrate 20g7%
Dietary Fiber 3g11%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 13mg63%
Calcium 105mg8%
Iron 2mg14%
Potassium 646mg14%
*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.

Spinach Has Never Looked So Good Than in This Cream of Spinach Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does spinach in soup freeze well? ›

Yes, you can freeze the soup. However, it's best to do so before adding any cream or dairy-based ingredients. Freeze in airtight containers for up to 2-3 months, and when reheating, you can add the cream or dairy alternative.

How many calories are in spinach soup? ›

Spinach Soup (1 cup) contains 15.7g total carbs, 14g net carbs, 12.3g fat, 8.7g protein, and 203 calories.

Can you overcook spinach in soup? ›

Cooking your spinach for too long in, say, a soup, can cause it to all but disappear completely into the rest of the dish. For those who plan on cooking spinach on its own, it's all about making sure you use enough heat.

Why does my spinach soup taste bitter? ›

Spinach can become bitter when sautéed due to its high levels of oxalic acid, which can be released when the leaves are cooked for too long or at too high a temperature. Additionally, overcooking can break down the chlorophyll in the spinach, leading to a bitter taste.

Is it OK to eat spinach every day? ›

What's bad about spinach? If you eat spinach every day in excessive amounts (more than a bowl) there can be adverse health effects. Most commonly these include gas, bloating and cramps due to its high fiber content. Eating too much spinach can also interfere with the body's ability to absorb nutrients.

Is it good to have spinach soup everyday? ›

The high amount of fibre in spinach also help in good digestion, regulate low blood sugar and prevent constipation. All you need to do is to consume spinach once a day and this will do good for your health. Spinach makes feel full and curbs your appetite.

Does spinach lose nutrients when cooked in soup? ›

Broccoli, spinach, and lettuce may lose up to 50% or more of their vitamin C when boiled ( 4 , 5). Because vitamin C is water-soluble and sensitive to heat, it can leach out of vegetables when they're immersed in hot water. B vitamins are similarly heat sensitive.

Can you reheat soup that has spinach in it? ›

You can reheat cooked spinach. While there are warnings about reheating spinach on the Internet, they are largely based on a 2015 journal article about the conversion in food of nitrates to nitrites and then to carcinogenic nitrosamines, The article didn't actually mention spinach, though spinach is rich in nitrates.

Is it better to freeze spinach raw or cooked? ›

Blanching spinach before freezing helps preserve the colour and taste for longer as it delays the enzymatic process that leads to decay, however, it's not so good at retaining the nutrients. Blanching spinach before freezing also means that it will last a lot longer in the freezer, for up to a year.

What soups should not be frozen? ›

Soups with a creamy consistency, like potato or chowders, might not taste good after freezing because it affects the texture and makes potatoes mushy. Rice, beans, and noodle soups might also taste different or become mushy. Typically, broth-based soups will freeze well.

Can you put cooked spinach in the freezer? ›

"Once cooked, store cooled spinach in airtight containers. Label and date whatever you freeze to help you keep track of its quality," Beitchman says. Frozen spinach will last in the freezer for about three months, but if you bought it from the store already frozen, Bruning says to follow the sell-by date.

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