Cozy Chicken and Spinach Soup: A Hug in a Bowl! - Taste Dessert

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped (approx. 1 cup)
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced (approx. 1 cup)
• 2 celery stalks, diced (approx. 1 cup)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (approx. 2 teaspoons)
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 8 cups (approx. 1.9 liters) chicken broth (low-sodium preferred)
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 pound (450g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 5 ounces (140g) fresh spinach, roughly chopped (or 10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry)
• 1/2 cup (approx. 60g) uncooked small pasta (e.g., ditalini, orzo) (optional)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
• Lemon wedges (optional)