Description
Hearty italian sausage, vegetable, and rice soup celebrates rustic comfort with bold Mediterranean flavors. Savory sausage, tender vegetables, and perfectly cooked rice blend into a warm embrace that invites you to savor each spoonful of authentic Italian goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 lb (454 g) Italian sausage (mild or spicy), casings removed
- 1 (14.5 oz/411 g) can diced tomatoes (with juice)
- ¾ cup uncooked long grain white rice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 zucchini, chopped
- 1 bell pepper (any color), chopped
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp dried basil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 cups fresh spinach or kale (optional)
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Sauté Base: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Brown Italian sausage, breaking it into crumbles, then introduce diced onions and minced garlic, allowing aromatics to develop for 3-4 minutes.
- Vegetable Layer: Incorporate carrots, celery, bell pepper, and zucchini into the pot, sautéing for 5-6 minutes to enhance their flavors and slightly soften the vegetables.
- Liquid Infusion: Pour in diced tomatoes and chicken broth, seasoning with Italian seasoning, basil, salt, and pepper. Raise heat to create a robust boil.
- Rice Integration: Introduce rice, reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and allow the soup to simmer gently for 18-22 minutes until rice reaches perfect tenderness and absorbs the rich, savory liquid.
- Final Touch: Fold in fresh spinach or kale, letting the greens wilt gracefully into the soup for 2-3 minutes, creating a vibrant and nutritious final presentation.
Notes
- Choose high-quality Italian sausage with good fat content for richer flavor and better texture in the soup.
- Add rice near the end of cooking to prevent overcooking and maintain its perfect al dente texture.
- Cut vegetables into uniform, bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the soup.
- Easily make this soup gluten-free by using gluten-free chicken broth and substituting rice with quinoa for a protein-packed alternative.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg