Description
Hearty tortellini soup blends Italian comfort with rustic charm, combining spicy sausage, tender kale, and cheesy pasta in a rich broth. Warm bowls invite winter comfort, delivering satisfying flavors that comfort and nourish with each delicious spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- ½ pound bulk mild Italian sausage
Vegetables:
- 1 large carrot, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 stalk celery, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 bunch curly leaf kale (about 6 ounces), large veins removed and torn into large pieces
Liquid and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 1 10-ounce package fresh or frozen spinach tortellini
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Warm a spacious cooking vessel with olive oil over medium-high temperature, preparing for a rich, hearty soup preparation.
- Crumble sausage into the heated oil, breaking meat into small fragments while browning thoroughly until achieving a deep golden color and releasing aromatic flavors, approximately 10-12 minutes.
- Extract browned sausage using a perforated utensil, transferring to a separate plate while maintaining the flavorful rendered fat in the cooking vessel.
- Return pan to medium heat and introduce chopped carrots, onions, and celery, seasoning with salt and pepper for enhanced taste profile.
- Gently sauté vegetable medley, stirring periodically, allowing ingredients to soften and caramelize around edges, creating a flavor foundation, roughly 5-7 minutes.
- Incorporate minced garlic, fresh thyme, and bay leaf, stirring briefly to activate their aromatic essence and infuse the base with herbaceous complexity.
- Pour chicken broth into the vegetable mixture, bringing liquid to a gentle simmer and allowing flavors to meld for approximately 5 minutes.
- Introduce torn kale leaves, previously cooked sausage, and tortellini to the simmering broth, cooking until pasta reaches perfect tenderness.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed, ensuring balanced flavor throughout the soup.
- Ladle piping hot soup into serving bowls, presenting a comforting and nutritious meal ready to be enjoyed immediately.
Notes
- Maximize flavor by browning sausage completely before removing from the pan, which helps develop rich, deep taste profiles.
- Chop vegetables uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the soup.
- Layer ingredients strategically: start with meat, then aromatics, followed by broth and pasta to build complex, balanced flavors.
- Fresh tortellini cooks faster than frozen, so adjust simmering time accordingly to prevent overcooking and maintain pasta’s delicate texture.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to control salt levels, allowing you to season gradually and prevent an overly salty final dish.
- Add kale near the end of cooking to preserve its vibrant color, nutrients, and prevent wilting into mushy greens.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg