Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Brown the sausage
- Brown Italian sausage in a large pot over medium-high heat, then drain excess fat.
- Continue cooking until the sausage is evenly browned, with no visible pink, for a deeper flavor.
Build the soup base
- Sauté onion for 4 minutes in the pot until softened.
- Add garlic and tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring, until fragrant and slightly darkened.
- Add diced tomatoes, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes, then bring the mixture to a boil.
Cook tortellini
- Add tortellini to the boiling soup and cook for 4-5 minutes until tender.
- Stir occasionally so tortellini doesn’t stick to the pot or clump.
Finish with cream and spinach
- Stir in heavy cream and baby spinach.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes until the spinach wilts and the soup turns creamy and smooth.
Season and serve
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot with generous parmesan shavings and fresh basil on top.
Notes
For best texture, add tortellini only after the soup comes to a boil and keep it at a gentle simmer once it’s added to prevent overcooking. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days; reheat on the stovetop with a splash of broth or cream if the soup thickens. Freezing is not recommended because refrigerated tortellini can become soft when thawed. For a lighter option, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream (the soup will be less rich but still creamy).
