Description
Homemade creamy parmesan italian sausage soup brings warmth to winter dinner tables with rich, comforting flavors. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a satisfying meal you’ll crave repeatedly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450 g) Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 4 cups (1 liter) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup (150 g) small pasta (ditalini or orzo)
- ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups (60 g) fresh spinach or kale, roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sausage Preparation: Crumble and brown Italian sausage in a large pot, creating small, crispy pieces. Remove meat, leaving a thin layer of fat for subsequent cooking.
- Vegetable Sauté: Drizzle olive oil into the same pot, adding diced onions, carrots, and celery. Sauté until vegetables soften and become translucent. Introduce minced garlic, allowing aromatics to bloom briefly.
- Liquid and Seasoning Integration: Pour chicken broth, scraping caramelized bits from the pot bottom. Incorporate Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and cooked sausage. Bring to a vigorous boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for 10 minutes.
- Pasta and Cream Infusion: Add pasta directly to the simmering liquid, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Once pasta reaches al dente, reduce heat and whisk in heavy cream, milk, and Parmesan cheese until a smooth, creamy texture develops.
- Final Touches: Fold in fresh spinach or kale, allowing greens to wilt naturally. Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper to taste. Ladle into serving bowls, garnishing with additional Parmesan and a pepper sprinkle. Serve alongside crusty bread for a complete, comforting meal.
Notes
- Control Sausage Fat: Select lean Italian sausage or drain excess fat to prevent greasy soup texture and maintain a balanced flavor profile.
- Pasta Precision: Choose short pasta like rotini or small shells that hold sauce well and cook evenly without becoming mushy during simmering.
- Cream Technique: Add heavy cream at low temperature and stir continuously to prevent separation or curdling, ensuring smooth and silky consistency.
- Vegetarian Adaptation: Substitute Italian sausage with plant-based sausage crumbles or hearty mushrooms like cremini for similar robust flavor and protein content.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg