Soup for Lunar New Year

Dumpling soup is traditionally served on Lunar New Year in many Asian countries. It’s such an easy soup to make that I make it whenever it’s cold and I want a quick and yummy soup. Trader Joe’s Thai dumplings are particularly flavorful so I do not recommend substituting another type of dumpling unless you are ready to add much more seasoning to the soup.

Serves 4-6 people a dinner-sized portion

Ingredients:

• 2 containers Trader Joe’s Free Range Chicken Broth
• 2 bags Trader Joe’s Thai shrimp or vegetable dumplings (I like using one of each)
• 1 bag Trader Joe’s organic spinach
• 4 scallions, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds, crushed (optional)
• 3 cloves garlic, finely minced (optional)
• Trader Joe’s low-sodium soy sauce
• Trader Joe’s toasted Asian sesame oil

Preparation:

1. Empty broth into 4 quart pot, cover and bring to a boil.
2. Add dumplings all at once, cover and return to a boil. Remove lid and lower heat to medium to gently boil dumplings. Do not vigorously boil or they will fall apart. Cook 7-8 minutes only.
3. When dumplings are cooked, add bag of spinach, stir and cook about 1 minute just until spinach is wilted.
4. Ladle dumpling soup into bowls and top with a heaping teaspoon of scallion or combine the scallion, sesame seeds and garlic in a small bowl and pass around as a topping. Pass around small bowls of soy sauce and toasted sesame oil for each person to season their bowls as desired.