Description
This Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup is a hearty and comforting dish featuring mild Italian sausage, cheese tortellini, fresh kale, and a savory tomato broth. Enhanced with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, this soup can be made creamy with an optional addition of heavy cream, making it perfect for a cozy family meal or dinner gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 pound mild ground Italian sausage
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1 small red bell pepper, seeds removed and chopped
- 1 medium carrot, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups chopped kale, stems removed
Liquids and Broth
- 4 cups chicken broth or stock
- 28 oz diced tomatoes
- 1 cup heavy cream (optional)
Seasonings and Herbs
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Dash of crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Pasta and Cheese
- 10 ounces cheese tortellini
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
Instructions
- Cook the sausage: In a large pot or Dutch oven, add the mild ground Italian sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Transfer the cooked sausage to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat and set aside.
- Sauté vegetables: In the same pot, add the chopped onion, red bell pepper, and carrot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, approximately 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add broth and tomatoes: Pour in the chicken broth and diced tomatoes. Add the bay leaf, kosher salt, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Cook tortellini: Once boiling, add the cheese tortellini. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the tortellini are cooked through and tender.
- Combine remaining ingredients: Return the cooked sausage to the pot and stir in the chopped kale, grated Parmesan cheese, and fresh basil. If using heavy cream, stir it in at this point to create a creamy texture. If not using cream, consider adding an additional cup of chicken broth to adjust the soup’s thickness to your preference.
- Finish and serve: Remove the bay leaf from the soup. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and serve with extra freshly grated Parmesan cheese for garnish, if desired. Enjoy this comforting and flavorful Italian sausage tortellini soup!
Notes
- This hearty tortellini soup combines Italian sausage, cheese tortellini, and nutrient-rich kale for a nutritious and satisfying meal.
- For a creamy variation, stir in heavy cream at the end of cooking.
- Serve with crusty bread to soak up the delicious broth and make the meal even more comforting.
- You can adjust the heat by varying the amount of crushed red pepper flakes depending on your preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
