TUSCAN SAUSAGE SOUP

Tuscan Sausage Soup image

When you don't know what's for dinner but it needs to be comforting, we suggest this soup. It has a brothy tomato base that's loaded with rich Italian sausage, sweet carrots, caramely onions, tender cannellini beans, silky spinach and just the right amount of pasta. Top it off with a handful of garlicky butter-toasted Progresso™ bread crumbs and a handful of Parmesan, and you've got dinner. Extra credit if you serve it alongside a green salad and loaf of crusty bread.

Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories Entree

Time 1h

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

1 lb Italian ground pork sausage
1 cup chopped onions
1 large carrot, peeled, cut into quarters lengthwise and into 1/4-inch slices (about 1 cup)
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
6 cups Progresso™ reduced sodium chicken broth (from two 32-oz cartons)
1 can (19 oz) Progresso™ cannellini beans, drained, rinsed
1 can (28 oz) Muir Glen™ organic fire roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano
1 bay leaf
3/4 cup (3 oz) small ring pasta, such as ditalini
3 cups baby spinach, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup Progresso™ plain panko crispy bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

Heat 5-quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add sausage, onions and carrot; cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to break up sausage, until sausage is no longer pink. Stir in garlic and pepper flakes; cook 1 to 2 minutes or until garlic is fragrant.
Stir in broth, beans, tomatoes, oregano and bay leaf. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer uncovered 10 minutes. Add pasta; simmer 8 to 9 minutes or until pasta is tender. Remove bay leaf, and discard.
Stir in spinach; cover and remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes; stir.
Meanwhile, in 8-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat Add bread crumbs; cook and stir 2 to 3 minutes or until toasted and golden brown. Remove from heat.
Divide soup among serving bowls; garnish each with cheese and toasted bread crumbs.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 340, Carbohydrate 33 g, Cholesterol 30 mg, Fat 1/2, Fiber 4 g, Protein 18 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, ServingSize 1 1/2 Cups, Sodium 1080 mg, Sugar 5 g, TransFat 0 g