Description
Hearty Sausage and Vegetable Soup delights with robust Italian sausage and garden-fresh vegetables simmering in a rich, comforting broth. Warm spoons will carry each spoonful of this soul-satisfying meal straight to hungry hearts craving wholesome winter comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 lb (500 g) Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
Vegetables:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 medium zucchini, diced
- 1 medium bell pepper, diced (any color)
- 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into pieces
- 1 cup baby spinach (optional)
- 1 can (14.5 oz / 400 g) diced tomatoes (with juice)
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cups (1 liter) chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium flame, introducing sausage and crumbling while browning thoroughly. Drain excess grease to ensure clean flavor profile.
- Incorporate aromatic onions and garlic, sautéing until translucent and releasing fragrant notes. Quickly introduce chopped carrots, celery, zucchini, and vibrant bell peppers, allowing vegetables to soften and develop gentle caramelization.
- Pour diced tomatoes with their natural juices, complementing with rich broth. Season generously with Italian herbs, thyme, salt, and pepper. Elevate temperature to achieve rapid boil, then reduce to gentle simmer, allowing ingredients to meld and vegetables to become perfectly tender.
- Integrate green beans and optional pasta, continuing gentle cooking process. Permit pasta to absorb surrounding flavors while achieving ideal texture. Delicately fold baby spinach into soup’s surface, watching leaves wilt and integrate seamlessly into liquid landscape.
- Conduct final taste assessment, refining seasoning as necessary. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley across surface for visual appeal and herbal brightness. Present steaming hot, accompanied by rustic bread or crisp crackers for complementary texture experience.
Notes
- Choose spicy sausage like chorizo or andouille for extra flavor kick.
- Swap out meat-based sausage with plant-based alternatives for vegetarian version.
- Experiment with different seasonal vegetables to keep the soup versatile and exciting.
- Use gluten-free pasta or skip pasta entirely to make recipe low-carb and celiac-friendly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg