Italian Sausage and Orzo Soup (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
01 -
1 pound ground Italian sausage (mild or spicy).
02 -
1 medium white onion, peeled and diced.
03 -
2 medium carrots, diced.
04 -
1 celery stalk, diced.
05 -
6 cloves garlic, minced or pressed.
06 -
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes.
07 -
1 (15-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes.
08 -
8 cups chicken stock (or beef or veggie stock).
09 -
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning.
10 -
1 cup uncooked orzo pasta.
11 -
Fine sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper.
12 -
2 large handfuls fresh baby spinach or kale.
13 -
Optional toppings: freshly-grated Parmesan, chopped fresh basil and/or parsley.
# Instructions:
01 -
Cook sausage until browned, breaking it up. Remove meat, keep 1 tablespoon grease.
02 -
Cook onion, carrots and celery 6-7 minutes. Add garlic and pepper flakes for 2 minutes.
03 -
Add tomatoes, stock, seasonings and sausage. Bring to simmer.
04 -
Add orzo, cover and simmer until pasta is tender, stirring often.
05 -
Stir in spinach, season with salt and pepper.
06 -
Top with Parmesan and herbs if desired.
# Notes:
01 -
Add extra broth if soup sits as orzo absorbs liquid.
02 -
Can use mild or spicy sausage.
03 -
Works with any type of stock.