Sausage Soup With Tortellini

Ingredients

• 1 lb Italian sausage
• 1 cup onion, chopped coarsely
• 2 garlic cloves, sliced
• 5 cups beef broth
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup dry red wine or water
• 4 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
• 1 cup carrot, thinly sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon basil
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 8 ounces frozen meat-filled tortellini or cheese tortellini
• 8 ounces tomato sauce
• 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 medium green pepper, cut in 1/2 inch pieces
• grated parmesan cheese

Directions

1. 1

   Remove sausage from casing and brown in a 5-quart Dutch oven.

2. 2

   Remove sausage; drain, reserving 1 T of the drippings in Dutch oven.

3. 3

   Saute onions and garlic in drippings until onions are tender.

4. 4

   Add beef broth, water, wine, tomatoes, carrots, basil, oregano and tomato sauce and bring to a boil.

5. 5

   Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 30 minutes.

6. 6

   Skim fat from soup.

7. 7

   Stir in tortellini, parsley and green pepper.

8. 8

   Simmer covered an additional 35-40 minutes or until tortellini are tender.

9. 9

   Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top of each serving.