Sausage Tortellini Soup

Make this soup tonight! So easy and delicious.  Your whole family will love it - I promise!

Ingredients:

·       1 tablespoon olive oil

·       1 pound Italian sausage – casings removed

·       1 large carrot - finely chopped

·       1 small onion – finely chopped

·       3 cloves garlic minced

·       1/2 Tablespoon Italian seasoning

·       1/4 cup flour

·       6 cups chicken broth

·       1 6 ounce can tomato paste

·       1 cup heavy cream

·       1 9 ounce package three cheese tortellini (or Rana brand 5 cheese if you can find it)

·       2 cups baby spinach - chopped (or kale if you prefer)

·       salt and pepper to taste

·       Parmesan for topping

 

Instructions:

 

1.     Heat olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions and carrots and cook until tender, about 5-7 minutes. Add the sausage and turn up heat to medium high. Cook and crumble until browned. Add in garlic and Italian seasoning and sauté for a minute more.

2.     Add in the flour to the sausage/vegetable mix and and stir to combine. Pour in chicken broth. Add in the tomato paste and stir. Add in heavy cream. Let simmer while you cook tortellini separately.

3.    Cook tortellini according to directions on package (usually 3-4 minutes) Drain and set aside.

4.    Stir in the spinach into soup until wilted 1-2 minutes, right before serving. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

 

5.     Serve soup in bowls, adding in tortellini to each bowl

 

6.     Top with shredded parmesan and Enjoy!

 

Notes:

When you cook the tortellini separately – it prevents the pasta from eventually getting overcooked/mushy and also allows you to freeze leftover soup better.