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Rustic Italian Tortellini Soup

Name: Rustic Italian Tortellini Soup
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6 servings (2 quarts).
Cuisine: Europe, Italian
Ingredients: 3/4 pound Italian turkey sausage links, casings removed; 1 medium onion, chopped; 6 garlic cloves, minced; 2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth; 1-3/4 cups water; 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained; 1 package (9 ounces) refrigerated cheese tortellini; 1 package (6 ounces) fresh baby spinach, coarsely chopped; 2-1/4 teaspoons minced fresh basil or 3/4 teaspoon dried basil; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; Dash crushed red pepper flakes; Shredded Parmesan cheese, optional

262 reviews

Contest Winner

Test Kitchen Approved

Total Time

Prep: 20 min. Cook: 20 min.

Makes

6 servings (2 quarts)

This is my favorite tortellini soup recipe. It's quick to fix on a busy night and full of healthy, tasty ingredients. It originally called for spicy sausage links, but I've found that turkey sausage, or even ground turkey breast, is just as good. —Tracy Fasnacht, Irwin, Pennsylvania

Ingredients

3/4 pound Italian turkey sausage links, casings removed
1 medium onion, chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth
1-3/4 cups water
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 package (9 ounces) refrigerated cheese tortellini
1 package (6 ounces) fresh baby spinach, coarsely chopped
2-1/4 teaspoons minced fresh basil or 3/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Dash crushed red pepper flakes
Shredded Parmesan cheese, optional

Directions

Crumble sausage into a Dutch oven; add onion. Cook and stir over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the broth, water and tomatoes. Bring to a boil.
Add tortellini; return to a boil. Cook for 5-8 minutes or until almost tender, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat; add the spinach, basil, pepper and pepper flakes. Cook 2-3 minutes longer or until spinach is wilted and tortellini are tender. Serve with cheese if desired.

Can you freeze Rustic Italian Tortellini Soup?

Place individual portions of cooled soup in freezer containers and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add broth if necessary.

Test Kitchen Tips

In Europe, Parmigiano-Reggiano and Parmesan are considered the same cheese. But in the U.S., Parmesan is a generic term that may not come from Italy’s Parmigiano-Reggiano region. Using the authentic Italian cheese (in a lesser amount than the original’s ½ cup) ensures a cheesy richness in the makeover with less fat and calories.

Using baby spinach saves prep time because you don’t have to remove the tough stems of mature spinach. Some people prefer baby spinach’s tender texture in salads.

Check out all of our soup recipes for more great ideas.

Rustic Italian Ravioli Soup: Substitute ravioli for the tortellini.

Nutrition Facts

1-1/3 cups: 203 calories, 8g fat (2g saturated fat), 40mg cholesterol, 878mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 3g fiber), 16g protein.

Rustic Italian Tortellini Soup

Ingredients

Directions

Can you freeze Rustic Italian Tortellini Soup?

Nutrition Facts

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