Description
This hearty Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage and Kale combines savory mild Italian sausage, tender kale, and cheesy tortellini in a rich tomato and cream broth, creating a comforting and flavorful meal perfect for any day.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage, ground or casing removed
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 quart chicken stock
- 1 (14-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 bunch curly kale, stemmed and roughly torn
- 10 ounces fresh tortellini
- 1 cup heavy cream
Optional Garnishes
- Parmesan cheese, grated for serving
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, for serving
Instructions
- Cook Sausage and Aromatics: Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, onions, and garlic. Cook while breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon until the sausage is browned and onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Drain off any excessive fat.
- Add Liquids and Simmer: Whisk in the chicken stock, crushed tomatoes, and tomato paste until fully combined. Bring the mixture to a boil, add salt, then reduce heat and simmer until slightly reduced, about 15 minutes.
- Add Kale, Tortellini, and Cream: Stir in the torn kale, fresh tortellini, and heavy cream. Cook until the kale is wilted and the pasta is tender, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and top with grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use mild Italian sausage for a gentler flavor or spicy sausage for a kick.
- If fresh tortellini is unavailable, frozen tortellini works well too.
- Drain excess fat from sausage to keep soup from being too greasy.
- Feel free to substitute kale with spinach or Swiss chard for a different leafy green option.
- To make this soup lighter, reduce or omit the heavy cream.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; add extra broth when reheating if it thickens.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
