Italian Sausage Vegetable Soup

[jglass]

I made this today. I added a few items of my own to taste. It is a wonderful soup served with crostini for dipping into the broth.

Italian Sausage Vegetable Soup

1 lb Italian sausage
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 carrots, peeled/ diced
2 small zucchini, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1/2 cup dry white wine
5 cups chicken broth
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes, in tomato puree
1 teaspoon dried basil, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
salt
freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup uncooked orzo pasta (rice-shaped pasta)
2/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese


Use bulk sausage or remove the casings from the sausage and discard.
Brown the sausage in a heavy Dutch oven or large saucepan, mashing it with the back of a spoon until the meat is no longer pink and has rendered most of its fat.
Spoon out most of the fat from the cooked sausage and discard.
Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring,until soft but not browned.
Add carrots, zucchini, pepper, wine, chicken broth, tomatoes, basil, and oregano and bring to a boil.
When the soup in boiling, add the orzo and cook for 20 minutes.
Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Serve in heavy soup bowls.
If desired, sprinkle Parmesan cheese over each serving.
To prepare in advance:
Like most hearty soups, this tastes best if it is cooled, refrigerated overnight, then reheated to serve.
It may also be frozen.

I added a couple of big handfulls of baby spinach, one can of chick peas, tomato paste and a splash of balsamic vinegar. I used 4-5 big cloves of minced garlic in the soup. I had mine with lots of parm grated on top. I am taking half of it to my FIl tomorrow.

[jpshaw]

Sounds great Janie. I might have to change a few ingredients to fit my low sodium diet but I just might have to try it. I've never used orzo before.

[jglass]

I took a batch of this to an elderly friend. His wife is Thai and when she cooks that is the only sort of food he gets. He called today and Jon asked him if they liked it. He said she hadnt tried any but he told Jon he was considering adopting me lol. He loved it. I cannot remember what website I got the recipe from but it has been a big hit. He said it ran his blood sugar up but he liked it so well he didnt care lol. Im sorry it ran his sugar up but it did make me smile he loved it so much.

[MsMai]

JG, thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe. Cannot wait to make it.