Description
Hearty Creamy Parmesan Italian Sausage Soup delivers comfort straight from Italian kitchens, blending rich sausage with silky parmesan in a soul-warming bowl. Robust flavors invite winter warmth and culinary satisfaction for hungry souls seeking genuine Italian comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (450 g) Italian sausage (mild or spicy, as desired)
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
Liquid and Dairy:
- 4 cups (1 liter) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk (optional, for a lighter soup)
- ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for garnish)
Pasta and Seasonings:
- 1 cup (150 g) small pasta (like ditalini or orzo)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (if needed)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Greens:
- 2 cups (60 g) fresh spinach or kale, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Heat a spacious cooking vessel and crumble the Italian sausage, browning it thoroughly while breaking into small pieces. Extract the meat using a perforated utensil, reserving a thin layer of rendered fat.
- Introduce olive oil into the identical pot, then incorporate diced onions, julienned carrots, and chopped celery. Sauté the vegetables until they soften and become translucent. Add minced garlic and continue cooking briefly to release aromatic notes.
- Pour chicken broth into the pot, carefully dislodging caramelized fragments from the bottom surface. Integrate Italian seasoning, optional red pepper flakes, and previously cooked sausage. Elevate temperature to achieve a robust boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer for approximately 10 minutes.
- Introduce pasta directly into the simmering liquid, monitoring cooking time to ensure optimal texture. Periodically stir to prevent ingredient adhesion and maintain even cooking.
- Lower heat and gently incorporate heavy cream, optional milk, and finely grated Parmesan cheese. Whisk methodically until the cheese dissolves completely, creating a luxurious, velvety consistency.
- Fold fresh spinach or kale into the soup, allowing the greens to wilt and integrate seamlessly. Calibrate seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper according to personal preference.
- Transfer the steaming soup into serving vessels, embellishing with additional Parmesan cheese and a final sprinkle of black pepper. Accompany with crusty artisan bread for an enhanced dining experience.
Notes
- Sausage Selection Matters: Choose high-quality Italian sausage with robust flavor, preferably with a mix of spicy and mild varieties for depth.
- Fat Management: Drain excess grease carefully to prevent the soup from becoming overly greasy while maintaining rich flavor.
- Pasta Cooking Precision: Add pasta towards the end of cooking to prevent overcooking and maintain ideal texture, ensuring it stays perfectly al dente.
- Dairy Sensitivity Hack: Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk or lactose-free alternatives for dairy-free dietary needs without compromising creamy consistency.
- Vegetable Flexibility: Customize vegetable mix by adding zucchini or bell peppers for extra nutrition and varied texture in the soup.
- Spice Control: Adjust red pepper flakes based on heat preference, allowing personalization for different spice tolerances.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Soup tastes even better the next day as flavors intensify, making it perfect for meal prep and convenient reheating.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg