Description
This Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup is a hearty and flavorful one-pot meal featuring spicy Italian sausage, sweet potatoes, and cheese-filled tortellini in a creamy broth. Enhanced with garlic, tomato paste, and fresh spinach, this comforting soup is perfect for a cozy dinner and comes together easily on the stovetop.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Seasonings
- 12 oz sausage such as spicy Italian sausage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika (regular or smoked)
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt to taste (about ¼ teaspoon or less, optional depending on sausage saltiness)
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 large sweet potato (or 2 small), peeled and cubed
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 oz fresh spinach
- 4 tablespoons fresh thyme
Other Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 6 cups water
- 8 oz refrigerated tortellini (three-cheese recommended, e.g., Buitoni brand)
- ½ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Cook the Sausage: Heat olive oil in a large, high-sided pot over medium heat. Add crumbled sausage and cook, stirring, until fully browned and cooked through. Drain excess grease. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning and paprika, mixing well.
- Add Vegetables and Flavorings: Add peeled and cubed sweet potato, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and tomato paste to the pot. Stir to combine.
- Add Water and Simmer: Pour in 6 cups of water. Stir well to dissolve the tomato paste. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce to a visible simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender.
- Cook the Tortellini: Add the tortellini to the simmering soup. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, or according to the tortellini package instructions, until tender.
- Wilt the Spinach: Stir in fresh spinach and cook briefly until just wilted.
- Add Cream and Final Seasoning: Remove the pot from heat. Stir in the heavy cream until fully incorporated. Season with salt if needed and additional red pepper flakes to taste. Garnish with fresh thyme before serving.
Notes
- Cream Separation: The cream may separate or look grainy as the soup cools or after refrigeration. This is normal. Simply reheat the soup gently on the stovetop or in the microwave and stir well to restore a creamy texture.
- Saltiness: Adjust salt carefully, since the sausage might vary in salt content. Taste before adding additional salt.
- Tortellini Cooking Time: Follow the package directions for tortellini cooking time if it differs from the 10 minutes recommended here.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1 1/4 cups)
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
