I am SO making this soup! Tortellini Florentine with Italian sausage.

[CTyankee]

From today's New Haven Register:


"Susan Huff took first prize in our informal soup recipe contest for her Tortellini Florentine Soup With Hot Italian Sausage.

Found: Recently, I asked for a soup recipe you prepare on a cold winter’s day. Congratulations to Susan Huff of Hamden who submitted her recipe for Tortellini Florentine Soup With Hot Italian Sausage.

Huff won a cooking class at Delia, the Viking Center of New England in Wallingford."

TORTELLINI FLORENTINE SOUP WITH HOT ITALIAN SAUSAGE

-3 tablespoons olive oil

-1 pound hot Italian sausage, casings removed or use bulk sausage

-2-3 cloves garlic, minced; you can substitute minced garlic from a jar

-1 medium onion, chopped

-2 49-ounce cans beef broth

-2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes

-1 teaspoon oregano

-1 teaspoon basil

-1 teaspoon parsley

-½ teaspoon fennel seed

-Salt and pepper to taste

-16-ounce bag chopped spinach

-2 pounds cheese tortellini

In an 8-quart sauce pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Crumble sausage and put in pot, stirring until browned. Add garlic and onion. Continue frying, stirring occasionally until onion is translucent. Add beef broth, tomatoes, spices and spinach. Turn down heat and simmer 1-2 hours.

In a separate pot cook tortellini, drain and add to soup mixture.

Sprinkle with grated Parmesan or Romano cheese. Makes 18 to 20 servings.

This is a LOT of soup. If I make the whole recipe I'll have enough to give to my kind neighbors, with enough left over for me and hubby. Otherwise, I'll halve the recipe.

[yellerpup]

1. Looks great!

I'd serve it. :thumbsup:

[CTyankee]

2. I'm wondering if you could use chicken broth and substitute turkey sausage.

I'd like to give it to my dtr for her family but one child is a vegetarian...

[yellerpup]

3. Without a doubt.

Chicken broth would work very well. Does your vegetarian grandchild eat poultry? There may be a textured protein alternative, but I am not the one to advise you on that. If he/she will eat turkey you are golden! :hi:

[CTyankee]

4. Yes, she does eat chicken, turkey and fish.

Just no red meat. So I could use turkey sausage, which my supermarket carries.

Do you think the seasonings in this version are also good for a chicken stock instead of a beef stock? I don't see why that would matter, but...

[EFerrari]

6. Imo, they'd be fine with chicken stock. n/t

[yellerpup]

8. My opinion, those herbs will be better with chicken

than they are with beef. You are on the right track, shore 'nuff!

[CTyankee]

9. Yeah, I make a wonderful minestrone that calls for beef stock originally but I changed

to chicken and it is marvelous.

I wasn't too sure about the fennel seeds, since I really don't use them in anything that I normally cook...

[elleng]

5. I'll be there, yank!

[CTyankee]

7. I hope it's as good as the news story says it was. It won the contest, after all.

It doesn't appear to be too time consuming, either, and I LOVE the combination of tomatoes and spinach. I like that everything is fresh (except for the tomatoes, but if you made it with summer tomatoes it would be terrific, too).

[cbayer]

10. Definite keeper - this recipe is just chock full of foods I love.

Thanks!

:hi:

[CTyankee]

11. I hope it's good. I'm trying it next week!

[Lugnut]

12. I make this on a regular basis.

I use mild sausage because my innards can't tolerate spicy. A loaf of freshly baked bread, soft butter and a bowl are all you need for a wonderfully hearty meal. The tortellini breaks up a little when you freeze it but if you don't mind that part go ahead and freeze any leftovers.

[Lucinda]

13. Yum.

Spinach and Italian sausage are a great combo.

[EFerrari]

14. I'm making this tomorrow only with chicken broth and mushroom ravioli.

No tortellini at our grocery store today.

And, omg, I just had to pay $10 for a chicken. Not a big one or a free range one or an organic one. Just a chicken in the meat department. I can't believe it. And basil was nearly $5 a bunch. :scared:

[pengillian101]

15. Wow, those prices are outrageous.

But in the cost of living index, groceries don't count. :banghead:

[EFerrari]

16. Had to sub sauted roma tomatoes w garlic and parsley

with a can of crushed tomatoes for the two cans of diced. It tastes so good. And Rosie loves it.

[NJCher]

17. Nice photo!

Looks dee-lish.


Cher