Description
Hearty Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup combines Italian comfort with rich, satisfying flavors. Warm pasta and spicy sausage create a perfect winter meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 4 cups (946 ml) fresh spinach (or kale, roughly chopped)
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 4 cups (946 ml) chicken broth
- 1 (9 oz/255 g) package refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 1 (14.5 oz/411 g) can diced tomatoes (with juice)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (garnish)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (garnish)
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Brown sausage in a large pot over medium heat, breaking into small pieces until golden and crisp. Remove excess grease if needed.
- Vegetable Foundations: Sauté onions, garlic, carrots, and celery in the same pot until vegetables become translucent and fragrant, releasing their natural sweetness.
- Seasoning and Liquid Integration: Sprinkle basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes, then pour chicken broth and tomatoes. Bring to a robust boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer, allowing flavors to meld and intensify for 15 minutes.
- Creamy Transformation: Stir in heavy cream and tortellini, cooking until pasta reaches perfect tenderness and absorbs surrounding flavors, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Final Flourish: Incorporate fresh spinach, letting leaves wilt gracefully into the soup. Remove from heat and garnish with Parmesan cheese and parsley. Serve immediately with crusty bread or a light salad for a complete, comforting meal.
Notes
- Manage Sausage Fat: Drain excess grease after browning to prevent soup from becoming overly oily and maintain a balanced flavor profile.
- Control Tortellini Cooking: Avoid overcooking pasta by adding tortellini near the end of preparation, ensuring it remains tender and doesn’t become mushy.
- Balance Cream Integration: Add heavy cream slowly and stir gently to prevent separation, creating a smooth and consistent creamy texture.
- Adjust Spice Levels: Customize red pepper flakes to match personal heat preferences, allowing flexibility for different taste sensitivities.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg