I have a bad habit of buying ingredients for dishes that in the end never get made because I use the ingredients for various other dishes. While in the grocery my stomach is leading me down one path and by the time I get home it has made a sharp left turn. It has rerouted. We are now going east instead of west. A slight detour.
Pumpkin puree never gets to into pie shells, apples are eaten raw and not baked or stewed, kale is tossed into salads instead of sautéed, egg whites are used for omelets and not angel food cakes, and chicken/pork/beef…they just move from fridge to freezer. Major rerouting going on in my kitchen….the lady that lives in my phone, she is not happy. I refuse to make the U-Turn she is demanding me to take.
This weeks change of plans? Instead of sausage sandwiches and a pasta side dish we are making soup. Or almost a stew. I hate to sound like Rachel Ray, but it resembles a stoup. Ya know, when a soup and a stew merge. The lines get blurry. Your soup is no longer brothy nor is it thick and stewy…but it is stuck somewhere in the middle, just begging to be called a stoup. And before you know it you are talking full on Rachel Ray(she has her own language) and you are saying EVOO and using a garbage bowl and talking loudly to your cat, as if a cat could be an entire studio audience or cares about the nonsense coming out of your mouth…
Yes, I talk to my cat. Don’t act like you don’t. Stan doesn’t understand Rachel Ray though. Or English for that matter. I am not even sure he understands cat.
Once the storm rolled in earlier this week, sausage sandwiches were not on my radar. You see, sandwiches are not my ‘weather out the storm’ food choice. I prefer hot cocoa and soup and a chunk of crusty bread. All enjoyed while sitting smack dab in front of the TV in my favorite sweats (circa 2000) watching Netflix…Sons of Anarchy people….Seriously, where have I been? It is a great show…even though each episode makes/leaves me a bit anxious/nervous. Anxiety that drove me to Wikipedia where I read each seasons synopsis…I have a bit of a problem.
Thankfully I had power and was able to whip up this hearty dish that is packed full of sausage, cheese tortellini, and all kinds of veggies. This soup/stew/stoup is best when sprinkled with Parmesan cheese (which I totally forgot in all the pictures…doh!) This is a dish that is even better the second go around…love how that works!
| Turkey Sausage and Cheese Tortellini Soup or maybe Stew |
- 1+1/4 Pounds Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage, casings removed
- 1 Medium Yellow Onion, small dice
- 3 Garlic Cloves, peeled and minced
- 1-2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2 Large Carrots, thinly sliced
- 1 Red Bell Pepper, seeds removed, small dice
- 1 Zucchini, cut in half lengthwise, sliced into half moons
- 2 (14 ounce cans) Diced Tomatoes
- 1 – 14 ounce Can Tomato Sauce
- 4 to 5 Cups Beef Broth
- 3/4 Cup Dry Red Wine (I used a California Blend…)
- 1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 Package (about 20 ounce package) Cheese Tortellini
- Top with Parmesan Cheese
- In a large dutch oven over medium-high heat, cook sausage until browned and cooked through (8 to 10 minutes). Crumble sausage with the back of a wooden spoon. Once cooked, transfer sausage to a bowl (there shouldn’t be any pan drippings/fat left behind if using turkey sausage, but if there is then omit the olive oil in the next step).
- Add olive oil to dutch oven and stir in garlic, onion, and a pinch of salt. Sauté until translucent (about 5-7 minutes). Add turkey sausage back to dutch oven.
- Add carrots, bell pepper, zucchini, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring soup/stew to a simmer. Simmer until vegetables are tender 40-45minutes.
- Add cheese tortellini and cook for an additional 8 minutes until tender.
- Serve in bowls, topped with Parmesan Cheese and a chunk of crusty bread.
Fork Vs Spoon 
Yum, this looks good! Tortellini in soup is like the ulitmate for me. Two comfort foods in one. Glad your storm experience was cozy and not crazy!
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I agree on the tortellini in soup…it makes soup that much better! I was lucky with the storm – how did you fare?
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Warming and super comforting!
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Regardless of what you call it, it sounds delicious!
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Hello! Making this now! When do I add the wine and the broth?
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Looks like I’ll be adding this one to my list! Early this week I made the gazpacho, and it was soooooo good. Sophia Loren’s meatballs were excellent and the onion/bacon puff pastry, well, it was soooooo good too! Thanks for all these good eats!
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