Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup

 

• 1 pound ground Italian sausage, hot or mild
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 Tablespoons flour
• -1 teaspoon dried basil
• -½ teaspoon oregano
• -1 pinch cayenne, optional
• -1 teaspoon hot sauce
• -½ teaspoon mustard powder
• -¼ teaspoon pepper
• -1 cup heavy cream
• -5 cups chicken broth
• -2 cups kale, chopped
• -2 cups refrigerated tortellini, just under 10 oz.
• -Salt/ to taste
• -1 pinch red pepper flakes

Instructions

• Note: The mustard powder and hot sauce are so subtle in this soup but help enhance the other flavors, so although you may be hesitant to add them, I highly recommend it!
• Remove the casings from the sausage if you purchased links. Cook and crumble the sausage and diced onions over medium-high heat until the onions are softened and the sausage is cooked through, 8-10 minutes. Drain grease. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste.
• Add 1 tsp dried basil, ½ tsp oregano, 1 pinch of cayenne, 1 tsp hot sauce, ½ tsp mustard powder, ¼ tsp pepper. Stir to combine.
• Add the chicken broth and use a silicone spatula to “clean” the bottom of the pot. Add the cream. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer.
• Add the kale and tortellini and simmer for 3-5 minutes. (If your tortellini needs longer cooking time, add the tortellini first, then the kale during the last 5 minutes.)
• Taste the soup and add salt if desired. Start with ¼ tsp and add more after that if needed.
• Transfer to serving bowls and top with a pinch of red pepper flakes. Serve with Garlic Bread with Cheese.