Description
Hearty kielbasa tortellini soup delivers comforting Polish-inspired flavors in one delightful bowl. Cheese-filled pasta and smoky sausage combine with vegetables for a satisfying meal that warms both body and soul.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 can (14.5 oz / 400 g) diced tomatoes
- 12 oz (340 g) kielbasa sausage, sliced into rounds
- 6 cups (1.5 liters) chicken broth
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups (about 8 oz / 225 g) refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 2 cups (60 g) fresh spinach or kale, roughly chopped (optional)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (for garnish)
Instructions
- Sear Kielbasa: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium flame. Sizzle kielbasa slices until edges caramelize and turn golden-brown, approximately 4-5 minutes. Remove browned sausage and set aside on a separate plate.
- Build Aromatic Base: In the same pot, sauté onions, carrots, and celery until softened and translucent. Introduce minced garlic, stirring continuously to release its fragrant essence. This foundational layer will infuse the soup with deep, complex flavors.
- Construct Liquid Foundation: Pour chicken broth and diced tomatoes into the vegetable mixture. Sprinkle Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and freshly ground pepper. Allow the concoction to reach a gentle simmer, melding the seasonings and creating a robust flavor profile.
- Incorporate Pasta and Protein: Lower heat to medium and add tortellini, cooking until pasta becomes tender. Reintegrate the previously browned kielbasa into the simmering liquid. Gently fold in spinach or kale, allowing the greens to wilt and incorporate seamlessly.
- Finalize and Serve: Ladle the hearty soup into serving bowls. Garnish each portion with a delicate dusting of grated Parmesan cheese. Serve alongside crusty bread to complete this comforting culinary experience.
Notes
- Sear Kielbasa Perfectly: Brown sausage edges carefully to develop deep, caramelized flavor without burning, ensuring maximum taste and texture in the soup.
- Vegetable Timing Matters: Sauté vegetables sequentially – start with longer-cooking items like carrots and onions, then quickly add garlic to prevent bitter burning and maintain fresh aromatics.
- Tortellini Texture Technique: Avoid overcooking tortellini by monitoring closely during 5-7 minute simmering period; pasta should remain tender yet firm, preventing mushy consistency.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap kielbasa with plant-based sausage for vegetarian version, use gluten-free tortellini for celiac-friendly adaptation, or include extra vegetables for increased nutritional density.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Polish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg