From the author:
This soup tastes like something a lucky traveler might happen upon in a rustic kitchen in the Italian hills. However, if you have some good chicken broth on hand and access to quality commercial tortellini, you can whip up this romantic, rib-sticking soup in 30 to 40 minutes. While I often use canned chicken broth in a pinch, the success of this recipe really depends on the richness of homemade chicken stock. Once you have that as a base, the rest is a breeze.
Quick Tortellini and Spinach Soup
Makes 6 to 8 servings
INGREDIENTS
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- 2 tablespoons olive oil
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- 2 ounces pancetta, finely diced
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- 3 cloves garlic, minced
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- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
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- 9 cups homemade chicken broth
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- 2 teaspoons dried Italian herb blend
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- 9 ounces best-quality commercial spinach or cheese tortellini
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- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes packed in purée
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- 8 ounces fresh spinach, rinsed well, stemmed, and coarsely chopped
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- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
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- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
INSTRUCTIONS
- Heat the olive oil in a stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta, garlic, and onion; cook, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth and Italian herbs. Bring to a boil and stir in the tortellini. Simmer uncovered until the tortellini is cooked, 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in the crushed tomatoes and simmer another 5 minutes. Add the spinach and cook just until wilted, about 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Ladle the hot soup into bowls and top with a liberal sprinkling of grated Parmesan.
Cold-Weather Cooking
by Sarah Leah Chase
Whether your winter blows with snow and rain or is just a sunbelt state of mind, a trove of delicious, soul-warming fare awaits in Cold-Weather Cooking. Guided by a sense that winter is the season for seasonings, gifted cook and author Sarah Leah Chase provides dishes that are even gutsier than her summertime favorites. She pays special attention to the late harvest, helps cooks make the most of fall fruits and vegetables, offers chapters on winter grilling and cooking over the hearth.
GET THE BOOK: Amazon | B&N | ebooks.com | Google Play | iBooks | Kobo
