Creamy Tortellini Soup Recipe
Posted November 7, 2023 by: Admin
This delectable tortellini soup boasts tender tortellini pasta, fresh kale, and zesty Italian sausage. If you’re a fan of Zuppa Toscana, this Italian tortellini soup will surely captivate your taste buds. It’s brimming with flavor, quick to prepare in just 30 minutes, and perfect for keeping you warm.
With the arrival of brisk autumn air, we find ourselves turning to a regular rotation of soups, including Creamy Tomato Soup and Chicken Noodle Soup. This tortellini soup offers a hearty, satisfying, and wholesome option.
Italian Creamy Tortellini Soup
This soup calls for common pantry and refrigerator essentials, making it ideal for hectic weeknight dinners or as a prelude to an Italian feast served with Focaccia Bread. It’s also a fantastic choice for satisfying your pasta cravings without indulging in heavy carbs. The velvety broth and tortellini deliver decadent flavors without weighing you down.
Ingredients
- Italian Sausage – opt for mild or spicy Italian sausage, depending on your preference
- Garlic – use fresh garlic for the best flavor, as opposed to garlic powder
- Onion – we recommend yellow onion for its sweet, caramelized flavor, but white or red onion can be substituted
- Salt – season to taste, considering the natural saltiness of the sausage
- Chicken broth – choose homemade Bone Broth for superior flavor or a store-bought alternative
- Tomato sauce – plain canned tomato sauce is suitable
- Cheese tortellini – readily available in the refrigerated or frozen section of most grocery stores, with options at Trader Joe’s and Costco
- Kale – fresh or conveniently add a bag of frozen kale to the broth for a time-saving shortcut
- Heavy cream – full-fat, heavy cream is essential for the signature texture of this soup; avoid using milk, as it won’t yield the same creamy result and may curdle
How to Make Tortellini Soup
You can whip up this homemade tortellini soup with just 10 ingredients in 30 minutes. Here’s a quick overview of the recipe:
- Cook sausage – Brown the sausage in a heavy soup pot over medium heat.
- Add onion and garlic – Sauté the onion until soft, then incorporate the garlic and season lightly with salt.
- Pour in broth & tomato sauce – Allow the soup to simmer for about 15 minutes.
- Add tortellini – Boil for around 5 minutes until fully cooked.
- Stir in kale and cream – Simmer for 2-3 minutes until the kale is tender; season to taste.
Helpful Tips
- Adjust the salt – Depending on your choice of broth and tomato sauce, you may need more or less salt. Hold off on adding extra salt until the soup is finished if you’re uncertain.
- Seek spiciness – Enhance the soup’s heat with a dash of red pepper flakes or ground cayenne pepper.
- Experiment with tortellini – Vary the soup by using different tortellini varieties, such as meat-stuffed or spinach-stuffed options.
- Avoid overcooking the tortellini – To prevent mushy tortellini, have your kale and heavy cream ready to add immediately after the tortellini is cooked.
Make-Ahead
- Refrigerating – Once the soup has cooled to room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-5 days. Note that the tortellini may absorb some broth while in the fridge, so you can add extra broth when reheating to achieve your desired consistency.
- Reheating – Warm the tortellini soup in a saucepan over medium heat or heat it in the microwave for a few minutes until it’s heated through.
- Preheat a deep, heavy pot over medium heat. Brown the Italian sausage until it takes on a light brown hue.
- Add diced onion and cook for about 5 minutes until it softens. Incorporate pressed garlic and season with 1 tsp of salt or to your liking.
- Add chicken broth and tomato sauce, then simmer for 15 minutes.
- Stir in the tortellini and simmer for approximately 5 minutes, adjusting the cooking time based on the tortellini’s size.
- Add chopped kale and heavy cream, bringing it to a simmer. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes or until the kale is tender. Remove from heat and serve.