Spicy Italian sausage, sweet potatoes, and tortellini simmered in a herbaceous creamy broth with fresh spinach.
# Ingredient List:
→ Sausage and Seasoning
01 - 12 oz spicy Italian sausage, crumbled
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
04 - 1 teaspoon paprika (regular or smoked)
05 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
→ Vegetables and Flavorings
06 - 1 large sweet potato (about 12 oz), peeled and cubed
07 - 5 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
09 - 4 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
10 - 4 oz fresh spinach
→ Liquids and Pasta
11 - 6 cups water
12 - 8 oz refrigerated three-cheese tortellini
13 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
# Steps:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add crumbled sausage and cook, stirring frequently, until browned and fully cooked, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess grease.
02 - Sprinkle Italian seasoning and paprika over the cooked sausage and stir to coat evenly.
03 - Incorporate cubed sweet potatoes, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and tomato paste. Stir thoroughly to combine flavors.
04 - Pour in water, increase heat to bring to a boil while stirring to dissolve the tomato paste. Reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until sweet potatoes are tender.
05 - Add tortellini to the simmering soup. Cover and cook at a gentle boil for 10 minutes, or until pasta is tender according to package instructions.
06 - Stir in fresh spinach and cook for approximately 1 minute until wilted.
07 - Remove from heat and gently stir in heavy cream until fully combined. Adjust seasoning with salt and additional red pepper flakes if desired. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves before serving.
