Rustic Tortellini Soup

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Additional Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Servings: 6-8

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 celery stalks, sliced
• 1 pound ground Italian sausage
• 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (9-ounce) package cheese tortellini
• 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)

Steps to Cook:

1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent.
2. Add the garlic and sauté for an additional minute until fragrant.
3. Add the carrots and celery to the pot and sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender.
4. Add the ground Italian sausage to the pot and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
5. Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth and the diced tomatoes, including the juice. Bring the mixture to a boil.
6. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and add the tortellini. Simmer for 10 minutes, or until the tortellini are cooked through.
7. Stir in the fresh spinach and basil, and season with the dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to taste.
8. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes, or until the spinach is wilted and the flavors have melded.
9. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve hot, garnished with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

Cook’s Note:

• For a vegetarian version, omit the Italian sausage and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
• Feel free to adjust the amount of broth to your desired soup consistency.
• The soup can be made in advance and refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave before serving.
• If you prefer a heartier soup, you can add additional vegetables such as zucchini, bell peppers, or mushrooms.
• For extra flavor, try adding a parmesan rind to the soup while it simmers.
• Serve the soup with crusty bread or a fresh salad for a complete meal.

This Rustic Tortellini Soup is a delicious and comforting dish that’s perfect for a cozy dinner. The combination of tender tortellini, savory Italian sausage, and fresh vegetables creates a flavorful and satisfying soup that’s easy to prepare.

To start, you’ll need to gather your ingredients. You’ll need olive oil, an onion, garlic, carrots, celery, ground Italian sausage, chicken or vegetable broth, canned diced tomatoes, cheese tortellini, fresh spinach, basil, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. You can also garnish the soup with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

Begin by heating the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Then, add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional minute until fragrant.

Next, add the sliced carrots and celery to the pot and sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender. This step helps to build the foundation of flavor for the soup.

Now, it’s time to add the ground Italian sausage to the pot. Cook the sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until it’s browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.

Once the sausage is cooked, pour in the chicken or vegetable broth and the diced tomatoes, including the juice. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and add the tortellini. Simmer the soup for 10 minutes, or until the tortellini are cooked through.

Finally, stir in the fresh chopped spinach and basil, and season the soup with the dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to taste. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes, or until the spinach is wilted and the flavors have melded together.

Ladle the Rustic Tortellini Soup into bowls and serve it hot, garnished with grated Parmesan cheese if desired. The soup can be made in advance and refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, simply reheat the soup gently on the stove or in the microwave.

For a vegetarian version of this soup, you can omit the Italian sausage and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. You can also adjust the amount of broth to achieve your desired soup consistency. If you prefer a heartier soup, feel free to add additional vegetables such as zucchini, bell peppers, or mushrooms.

This Rustic Tortellini Soup is a delicious and comforting meal that’s perfect for a chilly day. The combination of the tender tortellini, savory sausage, and fresh vegetables makes it a satisfying and nutritious dish that the whole family will enjoy.