If any of you are a bit hesitant because of the peanut butter in this soup, don’t be! It’s absolutely delicious!!! The peanut butter is not overwhelming, but gives this soup a depth and amazing richness. This soup is so hearty, satisfying and chock full of good-for-you ingredients. It includes chicken and a variety of chopped veggies, lots of fresh spinach, whole wheat couscous and a nice spice to it. The skinny for 1 main course serving, 228 calories, 11 grams of fat and 6 Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS.  I hope you’ll give it a try…And if you do, I’d love to hear what you think!

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

1¼ cups yellow onions, diced

1 cup carrots, diced

1 cup celery, diced

½ cup red bell peppers, diced

Cooking spray, I like olive oil cooking spray

1 tablespoon garlic, minced

1½ teaspoons chili powder

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

6 cups reduced sodium chicken broth, I used Swanson’s

2 cups cooked chicken breasts, diced or shredded, see shopping tip

1 (14½ ounce) can diced tomatoes

⅔ cup chunky or creamy peanut butter, see shopping tip

⅓ cup dry instant whole wheat couscous, see shopping tip

4 cups fresh spinach leaves

½ cup scallions, chopped (optional, for topping)

Instructions

1. In a microwave safe plate or bowl, add onions, carrots, celery and red bell pepper.
Cook in microwave for about 4 minutes until vegetables are softened.

2. Coat a large nonstick pan or soup pot with cooking spray.  Add cooked vegetables, garlic, chili powder and red pepper flakes.  Sauté for about 1 minute.  Stir often.

3. Stir in broth, chicken and tomatoes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes.

3. Stir in peanut butter with a fork. Make sure the peanut butter gets well blended.  Add couscous, spinach and mix well.  Cover, remove from heat.  Allow to sit 5 minutes.

3. To serve: Ladle 1¼ cups into each bowl.  Garnish each serving with 1 tablespoon chopped scallions, if desired.

4. This soup will keep in the refrigerated for several days. Leftovers are wonderful for lunch. This soup freezes great, too!

Makes 8 main course soup servings (each serving 1¼ cups)

Healthy Benefits
Most of the fat in this soup comes from the peanut butter. Peanut butter is an excellent source of protein and healthy fats. Peanut butter contains the same ratio of saturated to unsaturated fats as olive oil, says Harvard Medical School. The poly and monounsaturated fats in the spread can help to lower your risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes. For the healthiest choice, look for brands that have no oil or sugar added.

Whole wheat couscous (tiny pasta) is loaded with fiber. In fact, 1 cup cooked of whole wheat couscous has 7 grams of fiber. Whole wheat couscous derives from the whole grains of durum flour.

Shopping Tips
Trader Joe’s sells delicious natural, unsalted, crunchy peanut butter.  Laura Scudder’s also makes a natural, crunchy peanut butter.

Trader Joe’s sells packages of cooked, sliced or chopped, chicken breasts that are really tasty. If you buy a cooked chicken from the supermarket, be sure to remove the skin before chopping and adding to this dish.

Serving Tips
This main course soup is very hearty. To complete the meal, I love serving it with my Skinnylightful Asian Chicken Broccoli Slaw Salad except I leave out the chicken. It doesn’t need it with this soup. This salad normally makes 4 main course salads. Cut each serving into 2 and this entire recipe will make 8 side salads.  A simple mixed vegetable salad or mixed greens salad will also work with this soup.

Weight Watchers (old points) 5

Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS 6