TORTELLINI SOUP😍

New Years is almost here, which means we’ll all soon be back to the chaos of our daily lives. Until then, I’m gonna cozy up with this flavor bomb of tortellini soup that feels like a hug in a bowl. The easy comfort food you need in your life right now! 

This soup is call your mom and tell her all about it good. The gentle spiciness from the sausage, paired with the tomato-y, creamy broth with little tortellini nestled in, you couldn’t ask for much more. This comes out more like a stew than a soup since there’s more ingredients than broth. If you’re a big broth person and would rather have it more like a soup, then add in 2 more cups of broth and 2 oz cream cheese and adjust for seasonings.

Serves 4.

Ingredients:

For the Creamy Tortellini Soup:

• 1lb Italian sausage

• 10 oz cheese tortellini

• 1 qt chicken broth

• 1 container Mirepoix (1 onion chopped, 1 carrot chopped, and 2 celery stalks chopped)

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 2 tbsps tomato paste

• 4 cloves minced garlic

• ½ tsp dried oregano

• ½ tsp dried basil

• ¼ tsp fennel seeds

• 4 oz chopped fresh spinach

• 4 oz light cream cheese

• Chopped fresh basil 

• Red pepper flakes (optional)

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

For the Tortellini Soup:

• Heat a large stock pot or dutch oven to high heat and drizzle in the olive oil.

• Crumble Italian sausage and add to the pot, letting it sear one one side for 3-4 minutes or until charred in some places.

• Use a wooden utensil to break up any large bits of sausage. If there’s a lot of oil, drain some off, you only want about a tablespoon in there.

• Add in the mirepoix and season with a bit of salt and pepper. Cook on high until soft, about 4-5 minutes.

• Stir in tomato paste, garlic, oregano, basil, and fennel seeds and cook for 1 minute.

• Pour in broth and bring to a boil.

• Add the tortellini and cook according to package directions. 

• With 2 minutes to go, stir in the chopped spinach.

• On low heat,  stir in the cream cheese.

• Taste and adjust seasonings, adding red pepper flakes if you want a little more heat.

• Top with basil and enjoy!