Description
A rich, comforting one-pot soup featuring browned Italian sausage, fresh cheese tortellini, and a silky cream broth, inspired by traditional family recipes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb raw Italian sausage (sweet, hot, or a mix), removed from casings
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 16 oz refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach, packed
- Black pepper to taste
- Salt to taste (optional)
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add the raw Italian sausage, breaking it into small chunks. Brown for 8-10 minutes until no longer pink, then remove with a slotted spoon, leaving the fat in the pot.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the pot. Once melted, add diced onion and a pinch of salt. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Pour in the broth and use a wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits (fond) from the bottom of the pot. Bring to a gentle simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the refrigerated cheese tortellini to the simmering broth. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until they float and are tender.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and return the cooked sausage to the pot. Heat through for 2 minutes without boiling.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the fresh spinach until wilted. Season with black pepper and salt to taste. Serve immediately with Parmesan cheese and crusty bread.
Notes
[‘Do not freeze the tortellini in the soup; freeze the base without pasta and cook fresh tortellini upon reheating.’, ‘Scrape up the fond (browned bits) from the sausage to maximize flavor.’, ‘Add cream over low heat and do not boil to prevent curdling.’, ‘Use fresh garlic and freshly grated Parmesan for best results.’]
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 40
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
Keywords: tortellini soup, creamy sausage soup, Italian comfort food, one pot meal, winter soup, family dinner