Creamy Tomato & Tortellini Soup
Velvety tomato broth, tender tortellini pasta and savory browned sausage come together with fragrant Herbie's Bolognese Seasoning, fresh spinach and golden, crunchy sourdough croutons. RECIPE VIDEO
Ingredients
- For the Soup: ·
- (10-12oz) Tortellini Pasta · 1 package
- Williamson Wines Extra Virgin Olive Oil · 1 tablespoon
- Mild Italian Sausage, ground · 1/2 pound
- Celery, diced · 1/2 cup
- Carrots, diced · 1/2 cup
- Yellow Onion, diced · 1/2 cup
- Garlic, minced · 3 cloves
- Tomato Paste · 2 tablespoons
- Herbie's Bolognese Seasoning · 2 tablespoons
- (28oz) Crushed Tomatoes · 1 can
- Chicken Broth · 3 cups
- Heavy Cream · 1/2 cup
- Fresh Spinach · 2 cups
- Parmesan Cheese, grated · 4 ounces
- ·
- For the Sourdough Croutons: ·
- Sourdough Bread, cubed · 2 cups
- Williamson Wines Extra Virgin Olive Oil · 2 tablespoons
- Herbie's Bolognese Seasoning · 1 teaspoon
- Salt, to taste ·
Instructions
Creamy Tomato & Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage and Sourdough Croutons - Italian-Inspired · Pasta · Soup · Sausage · Comfort Food
- Make the sourdough croutons. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Toss the bread cubes with Williamson Wines Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 1 teaspoon of Herbie's Bolognese Seasoning and a little salt. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes until golden and crisp. Set aside.
- Brown the sausage. Heat 1 tablespoon of Williamson Wines Extra Virgin Olive Oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the ground sausage and cook for 5–6 minutes, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until thoroughly browned and cooked through. Transfer the sausage to a plate using a slotted spoon, leaving the flavorful drippings in the pot.
- Build the aromatic base. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the diced onion, carrots and celery to the pot. Sauté for 5–7 minutes until softened and fragrant. Add the minced garlic, tomato paste and Herbie's Bolognese Seasoning. Stir continuously for 1–2 minutes until the tomato paste darkens slightly and releases its rich, savory aroma.
- Simmer the tomato broth. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and broth, stirring well and scraping the bottom of the pot to release the caramelized bits. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 10 minutes to develop the flavors.
- Cook the tortellini. Return the browned sausage to the pot and add the fresh tortellini. Simmer for approximately 3–4 minutes, or according to the package directions, until the pasta is tender and cooked through.
- Finish with cream and spinach. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream, followed by the fresh spinach. Cook gently for approximately 1 minute until the spinach wilts and the broth becomes beautifully creamy. Avoid boiling once the cream has been added.
- Serve immediately. Ladle the hot soup into warmed bowls. Finish with freshly grated Parmesan and a generous handful of crunchy sourdough croutons.
Jenny's Serving Notes
Serve in generous, warmed bowls, allowing the plump tortellini and tender sausage to rise through the creamy tomato broth. Finish with a shower of freshly grated Parmesan and scatter the golden sourdough croutons over the top just before serving.
A few fresh basil leaves or a drizzle of Williamson Wines Extra Virgin Olive Oil add an elegant finishing touch. Offer extra croutons at the table; they have a habit of disappearing long before the soup.
Williamson Wine Pairing: Enchant Trinity. Its generous fruit and supple character complement the savory sausage and sweet tomatoes, while the wine's structure provides a pleasing counterpoint to the rich cream and Parmesan.
Chef's Notes
- Brown the sausage properly. Allow the meat to develop a rich golden crust before stirring too frequently. Those caramelized bits provide the foundation for a deeply savory broth.
- Bloom the Bolognese Seasoning. Cooking the spices briefly with the tomato paste releases their aromatic oils and builds a fuller, more integrated flavor than adding them directly to the liquid.
- Give the vegetables time. Slowly softened onion, carrot and celery create a naturally sweet, aromatic base that balances the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Watch the tortellini. Fresh pasta cooks quickly. Add it toward the end and avoid overcooking, which can cause the delicate parcels to split and release their filling.
- Add the cream gently. Reduce the heat before stirring in the heavy cream. A gentle finish preserves the soup's silky texture and prevents separation.
- Keep the croutons crisp. Store the toasted sourdough separately until serving. Their crunchy contrast is one of the pleasures that makes this soup memorable.
- Planning for leftovers. If preparing the soup ahead, cook the tortellini separately and add it when reheating. Pasta left in the broth will continue absorbing liquid and may become overly soft.
Tomatoes provide lycopene, a naturally occurring antioxidant pigment. Cooking tomatoes with olive oil can improve the body's ability to absorb this beneficial plant compound.
Spinach contributes folate, vitamin K and plant antioxidants, while carrots, onions and celery provide additional fiber and a variety of naturally occurring phytonutrients.
Italian sausage and cheese tortellini provide protein, helping make this soup a satisfying main course. The exact nutritional profile depends on the sausage, pasta and broth selected.
Williamson Wines Extra Virgin Olive Oil contributes predominantly monounsaturated fats and enhances the flavor of the aromatic vegetables and herbs.
Dietary considerations: This recipe contains gluten and dairy and is not vegetarian. The sausage, broth, tortellini and Parmesan may also contribute substantial sodium, while the sausage and cream add saturated fat.
For a lighter preparation, choose lean poultry sausage, reduced-sodium broth and a modest amount of cream. Additional spinach and vegetables can increase the fiber and vegetable content without sacrificing the soup's comforting character.
A hearty balance of protein, vegetables and warming Mediterranean-inspired flavors, this soup offers a satisfying way to bring wholesome ingredients and the pleasures of the Italian table together in one bowl.
Bolognese Seasoning
For seasoning Bolognese sauces, pizza and pasta dishes. Can be used when grilling meats.
