Tortellini Sausage Soup

Ingredients

• 3 links Italian sausage
• 4 cloves garlic (pressed)
• 1 onion (diced)
• 1/2 cup water (feel free to use broth or additional apple cider/juice here. )
• 1 quart chicken broth
• 1/2 cup apple cider (NOT apple cider vinegar)
• 1 16-ounce can diced tomatoes
• 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
• 1 cup carrots (sliced)
• 1 teaspoon basil (dried)
• 1 teaspoon oregano (dried)
• 2 zucchini, medium (grated )
• 8-10 ounce package cheese tortellini
• 2 tablespoons parsley, dried (yes, that’s two tablespoons!)
• kosher salt and black pepper

Instructions

1. 1

   If you’re using link sausage, remove the casings and crumble into a large soup pot. To remove the casings, you can use a sharp knife to cut a slit down one side of the sausage and then peel back the casing.

2. 2

   Chop onion and add to pot with garlic and a drizzle of olive oil. Continue cooking until onions are translucent and your sausage is cooked.

3. 3

   Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, cider, water, chicken broth, carrots, oregano, and basil. Sprinkle with kosher salt and black pepper. Cover and simmer for ½ hour. Add parsley and zucchini and simmer for another 15 minutes or so.

4. 4

   Add the tortellini and cook until tender. Add additional salt and pepper until it tastes perfect.

5. 5

   Serve with bread and freshly-grated Parmesan.