Description
Hearty parmesan Italian sausage ditalini soup delights pasta enthusiasts with robust flavors from Mediterranean kitchens. Comforting ingredients blend seamlessly, promising warm satisfaction for hungry diners seeking authentic Italian comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 4 cups (950 ml) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) ditalini pasta
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Protein Preparation: Sear Italian sausage in a large pot over medium heat, methodically breaking into delicate fragments until golden brown and completely cooked through.
- Aromatic Foundation: Without cleaning the pot, sauté onions, garlic, carrots, and celery until vegetables soften and release their nuanced fragrances, creating a flavor-rich base.
- Liquid Infusion: Pour chicken broth into the vegetable medley, sprinkle dried oregano and basil, then bring to a gentle simmer, allowing herbs to permeate the liquid with Mediterranean essence.
- Pasta Integration: Add ditalini pasta directly into the simmering broth, cooking until pasta reaches an al dente consistency with a subtle resistance when tasted.
- Creamy Transformation: Reduce heat and blend heavy cream and grated Parmesan, creating a luxurious, silky texture that envelops each ingredient with velvety sophistication.
- Final Harmonization: Reintroduce cooked sausage to the creamy mixture, gently fold in fresh spinach leaves until they gracefully wilt, and season comprehensively with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Serving Presentation: Ladle the steaming soup into serving bowls, optionally garnishing with delicate parsley fronds for a refined culinary finish.
Notes
- Sausage Selection Matters: Choose high-quality Italian sausage with balanced fat content for deeper flavor and richer texture. Mild or spicy varieties work wonderfully depending on personal preference.
- Pasta Precision: Cook ditalini pasta directly in the soup to absorb flavors, but remove from heat just before completely tender to prevent overcooking and mushy consistency.
- Cream Control: Add heavy cream off direct heat to prevent potential separation or curdling, stirring gently to maintain smooth, silky texture throughout the soup.
- Spinach Strategy: Fold fresh spinach leaves at the final moment to preserve bright green color and retain maximum nutritional value, allowing gentle wilting without becoming overly soggy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg