Description
This creamy sausage tortellini soup is a hearty, flavorful dish combining spicy Italian sausage, tender sweet potatoes, and three-cheese tortellini in a rich, creamy broth. Enhanced with garlic, Italian seasoning, and fresh thyme, it’s a comforting meal perfect for cooler days.
Ingredients
Meat and Oils
- 12 oz spicy Italian sausage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Spices and Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika (regular or smoked)
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- Salt, to taste
- Additional red pepper flakes, to taste
- 4 tablespoons fresh thyme
Vegetables and Pasta
- 1 large sweet potato (or 2 small), peeled and cubed
- 6 cups water
- 8 oz three-cheese tortellini (refrigerated), Buitoni brand
- 4 oz fresh spinach
Dairy
- 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 for several minutes, stirring until fully cooked through.
- Season the Sausage: Drain excess grease from the pot. Sprinkle Italian seasoning and paprika over the cooked sausage and stir to combine evenly.
- Add Vegetables and Aromatics: Add peeled and cubed sweet potato, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and tomato paste to the pot. Stir well to mix all ingredients together.
- Add Water and Simmer: Pour in 6 cups of water, stirring to dissolve the tomato paste completely. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover the pot and cook for 15 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender.
- Cook the Tortellini: Add the refrigerated three-cheese tortellini to the pot. Cover and cook at a gentle boil for about 10 minutes, or follow the package instructions for tortellini cooking time.
- Add Spinach: Stir in fresh spinach to the hot soup and allow it to wilt slightly, mixing thoroughly into the broth.
- Finish with Cream: Remove the pot from heat, then stir in the heavy cream to create a rich and creamy texture.
- Season to Taste and Garnish: Adjust seasoning with salt and additional red pepper flakes if desired. Top the soup with fresh thyme leaves before serving.
Notes
- Using spicy Italian sausage adds nice heat, but mild sausage can be substituted for a gentler flavor.
- For a thicker soup, reduce the amount of water slightly or simmer uncovered to reduce.
- Fresh thyme adds a lovely fragrant garnish; dried thyme can be used if fresh is unavailable.
- Be careful not to overcook the tortellini to prevent it from becoming mushy.
- This soup can be made ahead and reheated; the flavors deepen after sitting.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
