What is your favorite food to whip up when you have a hungry crowd? Lately, my go-to quick fix is some kind of soup. It’s the perfect meal to warm you up on these cold days. I mentioned the other day that my dad was visiting to help me and my husband with a few household chores. I don’t know about you, but I tend to procrastinate on the house chores. These chores weren’t fun by any means (not that they ever are), but my awesome dad is always happy to assist, even if it’s something as mundane as re potting a ginormous jade plant!
We were so focused on the chores that we ended up eating a late lunch. Picture three starving people barely talking and lips slurping as much soup as humanly possible. I made this tortellini soup as well as some Ham and Potato Soup. Lunch time ended up turning into the battle of the soups. Which one was better? The men liked them both, but if forced to decided, both preferred the potato soup.
This hearty soup is loaded with cheese tortellini, turkey sausage and veggies.
Italian Tortellini Soup Recipe
(About 6 servings)
Ingredients:
- 4 Hot Italian Turkey Sausage links (I used Shady Brook Farms), with casings removed
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 32 ounces vegetable broth
- 1 and 3/4 cups water
- 1 (14 and 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 3/4 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 (12 ounce) package frozen spinach
- 1 (9 ounce) bag frozen cheese tortellini
Directions:
- In a pot, over Medium heat, cook the sausage and chopped onion.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute.
- Stir in the vegetable broth, water, and diced tomatoes (don’t drain them), and bring it to a boil.
- Season with the dried basil, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Add the frozen spinach and tortellini and cook for another 7 to 9 minutes or until the tortellini is done. (Note: If your spinach is still frozen, let it thaw out in the soup and bring it back to a boil before adding in the tortellini.)
Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator or freezer.
I can whip up this meal in short order. (After all, I don’t want to keep my dad and husband waiting after doing chores all morning.) You throw all of the ingredients into one pot and it magically turns into a tasty soup. Yup, you only have one pot to clean when you’re done. I love that part!
This is a broth based soup. The cheese tortellini will soak up some of the simmering liquid. However, it will remain liquidy (similar to a traditional chicken soup).
Whoever created the idea of stuffing cheese inside of a small pasta ring was a genius.
The robust flavors from the hot Italian turkey sausage are an awesome addition to this soup. In general, Italian sausage has a strong fennel taste, which blends well with the other seasonings in this dish. I used turkey sausage here which cuts down the fat content without sacrificing any flavor. Does using sausage make this a manly meal? 😉
The diced tomatoes and spinach add great texture. I used frozen spinach, but feel free to use fresh spinach if that’s what you prefer. (Please note that if you use fresh spinach, you may need to cook the soup longer. You will want to cook it until the spinach leaves are tender. Also if you use fresh spinach you may want to finely chop it before adding it to the soup.) Spinach tends to be bitter, but there are many other intense flavors going on here that overpower it.
I sprinkled some grated Parmesan cheese on top because more cheese is always better.
This tortellini soup is filling and delicious. More importantly, it satisfied my two favorite men. 🙂
Adapted from: Taste of Home
Here are some other awesome soul warming soups that you might enjoy.
Looks great. I have my spoon with me waiting for a bowl.
Hehe, soup is on its way. 😉
“Battle of the soups” -> that’s great! And it sounds very familiar:) I would definitely pick this one as the winner. Tortellini and spinach? Sounds amazing!
I couldn’t pick my favorite because I loved both…just depends on what I’m in the mood for. 🙂
This looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it! And I agree…whoever wrapped cheese with pasta deserves some kind of award 🙂
Hehe. Thanks so much! I appreciate you stopping by. 🙂
I am a huge procrastinator with chores around the house, too. (It’s not going anywhere..it’ll still be there when I’m ready for it, right?!) Too funny.
Love this soup…thinking of breaking out this recipe this weekend …cz there are plans of (more) snow. So, I just stay put and stay cozy with the fam. Have a great and happy Wednesday, Tina!
Stay warm and safe Gloria! As always, I love seeing you here. 🙂
We are huge procrastinators when it comes to chores too and that’s so nice of your dad to come over and help out 🙂 This soup looks wonderful Tina! Love spinach and tortellini 🙂
I’m not usually a procrastinator, which is the funny part. I’m so lucky to have an awesome dad. 🙂
I love soups. Especially when they are a little “rustic” like this one 🙂
When making food for a crowd I love to make soup as well. Or stews.
Stews is a good one!
Soup is my favorite winter food indeed! Yours always look so comforting! I’m loving this one, and the fact that you used turkey sausage takes it over the top 😉
Awh, you’re so sweet! Thanks so much, my friend. 🙂
This looks delish! They offer the worst sausages in Canada (I know, weird) but my parents bought some chicken sausage when they were at TJs in Cleveland and are awesome and brought some back for me! Perfect in this soup 🙂
Happy Friday, Davida! Wow, I never thought that you’d not have a good selection of sausage! Chicken sausage would definitely be a good alternative. 🙂
Soup is great for a crowd, I’d probably say chili makes a hungry crowd happy for me. Can’t wait to try this gorgeous soup Tina!
Chili is a good one for sure! I hope you love this soup as much as we do. 🙂
This soup looks so delicious. It will make a great meal this winter or even right now.
Thanks so much! I totally agree. 🙂
I love soup, and I know my Italian husband would ADORE this. I make an Italian Sausage soup that is his absolute favorite – so I’ll have to make this version some time!
It’s hard to go wrong with Italian sausage. I’m half Italian, so I could be partial. 😉
I love soup any time…except maybe breakfast. 🙂 This looks great, and I think it would be great for a crowd!
Haha, good call. I don’t think I would want soup for breakfast either.
I love tortellini soup! Especially with sausage. Yum! Yours looks delicious. Mail me some? *wink*
Thanks so much! Sending some your way. 😉
Chores suck. Soup is awesome!!! My other half does not like pasta OR soup (annoying, right?) and so I guess that means more for me when I make this!!! 🙂 Totally gorgeous Tina
Seriously?! Wow, I’m so lucky that my hubby is pretty easy to cook for. Yes, more for you, that’s the spirit, hehe. 🙂