Description
This Spicy Sausage and Tortellini Soup is a hearty and flavorful meal that combines savory Italian sausage, tender tortellini, and nutrient-rich kale in a creamy, spiced broth. Perfect for a cozy dinner, this soup is easy to prepare in about 40 minutes and serves six generously.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage (hot or mild)
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups kale, chopped
Spices and Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- Salt, to taste
Other Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups tortellini (just under 10 oz, refrigerated or frozen)
Instructions
- Cook sausage and onions: In a large pot over medium-high heat, cook the ground Italian sausage and diced onions for 8-10 minutes until the onions are softened and the sausage is browned. Drain any excess grease from the pot.
- Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Add flour: Sprinkle the flour over the sausage mixture and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously to remove the raw flour taste and help thicken the soup later.
- Add spices: Mix in the dried basil, oregano, cayenne pepper (if using), hot sauce, mustard powder, black pepper, and red pepper flakes to evenly coat the sausage mixture with the seasonings.
- Add liquids: Pour in the chicken broth while scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot for extra flavor. Gradually stir in the heavy cream and bring the soup to a gentle boil.
- Simmer and add greens and pasta: Reduce the heat to low and allow the soup to simmer. Then add the chopped kale and tortellini, simmering for 3-5 minutes until the tortellini is tender and the kale is wilted. Taste and adjust salt as needed.
- Serve: Serve the soup hot, ideally accompanied by crusty bread for dipping.
Notes
- You can use either mild or hot Italian sausage depending on your spice preference.
- Fresh or frozen tortellini both work; just adjust cooking time if using frozen.
- For a thicker soup, slightly increase the amount of flour or reduce the broth by half a cup.
- Omit cayenne and hot sauce if you prefer a milder soup.
- Adding crusty bread or a side salad makes this soup a complete meal.
