4Add onion and sauté for a minute before adding Italian sausage. Cook for a minute, then add spices (ground black pepper, Italian seasoning, salt, fennel seed). Continue to cook until almost browned.
5Add carrots and celery. Sauté about 5 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften.
6Stir in tomato paste. Cook for another 5 minutes, until fragrant.
7Sprinkle in the flour and stir for 1 minute.
8Gradually pour in the beef broth, stirring well. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 15 minutes.
9Add some heavy cream.
10Add tortellini and spinach.
11Let that cook until the tortellini is done (about 2-3 minutes).
12Add parmesan cheese and stir until melted. Serve hot with extra cheese on top.
Ingredients
1 lb mild Italian sausage
1 yellow onion, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
0.5 tsp ground black pepper
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp salt
1 tsp fennel seed, lightly crushed
6 oz tomato paste
0.5 cup all-purpose flour
7 cups beef broth
20 oz cheese tortellini
2 cups heavy cream, half-and-half, or coconut cream
2 cups fresh spinach
0.5 cup grated Parmesan
olive oil
Equipment
large stockpotknifecutting boardwooden spoonmeasuring cupsmeasuring spoons
Tips
This soup tastes even better the next day.
When adding flour, keep stirring so it doesn’t burn.