Tortellini and Italian Sausage soup..this one of my favorite soup recipes! It's so hearty, delicious and filling! You can also substiute turkey italian sausage for less fat...serve with a nice salad and piping hot French bread for a great meal! :)

Tortellini  & Italian Sausage Soup

 

1 lb. Italian Sausage

1 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

5 cups beef broth

½ cup water

½ cup dry red wine or water

1 can petite-diced tomatoes

1 cup sliced carrots

1 t. dried basil

1 t. dried oregano

1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce

3 zucchini, sliced

8-ounces refrigerated cheese tortellini

3 T. chopped fresh parsley

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

 

Take the casing off sausage and brown whole on all sides in a black-iron or heavy-duty skillet.  Remove sausage from skillet and place on paper towels to drain, reserving drippings from sausage.  Transfer drippings into a large soup pot, and cook onions and garlic in drippings until tender.  Slice sausage and it to the onion mixture, along with broth, water, wine, tomatoes, carrots, basil, oregano, and tomato sauce and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.  Stir in zucchini, tortellini, parsley and bell pepper.  Cover and simmer 25 minutes or until tortellini are tender.  Sprinkle each serving with Parmesan cheese.