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Sausage Tortellini Soup

a hearty, full of flavor soup made from pantry friendly ingredients

Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword hearty soup, sausage and tortellini soup, soup for a meal, tortellini soup
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 2-3 tbsp vegetable or olive oil
  • 1 lb bulk sausage, hot, sweet or mild or venison sausage
  • 1/2 c chopped onion
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped fine or grated
  • 3 cups chicken stock
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp light brown sugar
  • 1 Parmesan rind
  • 1 package tortellini, fresh or frozen
  • 2 cups chopped spinach or Swiss chard cut into thin ribbons
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin, red pepper flakes, or smoke paprika if desired

Instructions

  1. add 2 tbsp oil to the Dutch oven, heat over medium heat, and put in the sausage. Do not break up, but allow to brown, then turn over the links or bulk piece and brown the other side.

  2. Add in the onion once the meat has browned, and start to break it up with a large wooden spoon. Continue to break up and stir around until in small bite size pieces. Add in more oil if needed.

  3. Add in the garlic and cook 30 seconds. Don't let it burn. Drain off any excess oil.

  4. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the meat, stir, and add the chicken stock and water. If you prefer, use 1/2 cup of red wine for part of the stock. Scrape teh bottom of the pot to deglaze the pan.

  5. Add the tomato juice, vinegar, sugar, & parmesan rind. Simmer 5 minutes or so to start to meld the flavors together.

  6. Add the tortellini, and cook per package directions - about 10 minutes - until cooked and floating.

  7. Add the ribbons of Swiss chard or spinach (or use baby spinach, no chopping!). Other hearty greens like Kale or collard greens will work too. Cook until wilted.

  8. Taste and adjust seasonings. If desired, add a drizzle of olive oil or some grated Parmesan.