Tortellini alla Salsiccia e Pomodoro

Tortellini soup has always been the ultimate comfort meal for me. When I was growing up, anytime I was sick, my Nonno Joe would drop off a big batch of his Tortellini in Brodo. Often times, I wouldn't have to ask. He'd hear my raspy voice over the phone, and a few hours later, I’d come home to find a pot of tortellini waiting on the front step. It’s a meal that reminds me of him, and that connection makes me love it even more.

This tortellini recipe is my own take on a variety of tortellini recipes I've had. It was my first time making it, and it turned out so well! I'll definitely be keeping this recipe close by as the cold weather in Chicago starts creeping in. I hope you enjoy making this as much as I did. I think Nonno would have liked this one.

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb of mild or spicy Italian ground sausage
• 10-12 oz of cheese tortellini
• 4 cups of fresh spinach
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1, 28 oz can of diced tomatoes (I like the brand Cento)
• 4 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1-1.5 cups of heavy cream
• 1/2 cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a dutch oven or large pot, heat 1 1/2 tbsp of olive oil on medium heat
2. Add the spicy Italian ground sausage into the pan, breaking it into small pieces as it browns
3. Once the sausage has browned, mix in the onion and garlic, and cook for about 5 minutes
4. Reduce heat to low and slowly stir in the diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and tortellini
5. Once all ingredients are mixed well, continue to cook on low for about 7 minutes or until tortellini is cooked (tortellini cooks quickly, so just keep an eye on it and bring the soup to the temperature you'd like)
6. Mix in heavy cream and 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
7. Mix in fresh spinach until the spinach has cooked down
8. Remove pot from heat and serve!

Note: From steps 4 on, I was slowly adding in salt and pepper, tasting each time to make sure I wasn't over adding salt and it was just right. Be careful not to add too much salt and pepper