Description
Hearty flavors of homemade sausage tortellini soup blend perfectly with rich Italian herbs and vegetables. Warm comfort fills each spoonful, inviting you to savor this soul-satisfying meal that connects culinary traditions with simple, delicious ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (227 g) three-cheese tortellini (refrigerated)
- 12 oz (340 g) spicy Italian sausage
- 4 oz (113 g) fresh spinach
- 1 large sweet potato (or 2 small), peeled and cubed
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 cups water
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 4 tbsps fresh thyme
- 1 tsp paprika (regular or smoked)
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Sauté Sausage: Heat olive oil in a deep pot over medium-high heat. Crumble sausage and cook until golden-brown, stirring to prevent sticking. Drain excess fat.
- Build Flavor Base: Add Italian seasoning, paprika, sweet potato, garlic, red pepper flakes, and tomato paste. Stir to coat ingredients and release aromatic compounds.
- Create Liquid Foundation: Pour water into the pot, whisking to dissolve tomato paste and integrate seasonings. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Develop Soup Depth: Cover and let ingredients meld for 15 minutes, allowing sweet potatoes to tenderize and flavors to intensify.
- Incorporate Pasta: Add tortellini and cook for 8-10 minutes or until pasta reaches desired tenderness, maintaining a steady simmer.
- Finish and Elevate: Stir in fresh spinach until wilted, then remove from heat. Blend in heavy cream, adjusting seasoning with salt and red pepper flakes.
- Serve and Garnish: Sprinkle fresh thyme over the soup and present immediately to preserve temperature and flavor complexity.
Notes
- Sausage Selection: Choose high-quality Italian sausage with robust flavor for maximum taste depth and richness in the soup.
- Potato Precision: Cut sweet potatoes into uniform, bite-sized cubes to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Cream Technique: Add heavy cream off the heat to prevent curdling and maintain a smooth, silky soup consistency.
- Seasoning Strategy: Taste and adjust spices incrementally, allowing flavors to develop gradually for a perfectly balanced soup experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 60mg