Minestrone With Tortellini Soup

This soup is perfect on a chilly night with hot, crusty bread. I have used the hot turkey sausage and this comes out perfect every time. It also looks pretty enough to be a company dish too!

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 lbs Italian sausage, spicy
• 1  cup onion, chopped
• 6  cups beef broth
• 1⁄2 cup red wine, dry
• 1 (16 ounce) can tomatoes with juice
• 2  cups carrots, sliced
• 1  cup celery, sliced
• 1  cup catsup
• 1  teaspoon  italian seasoning
• 2 -3  garlic cloves, minced
• 2  cups zucchini, sliced (2 small)
• 1⁄2 lb  frozen  tortellini (meat or cheese)
• 1  green pepper, diced
• 1⁄4 cup parsley, chopped
•  salt (to taste)
•  pepper (to taste)
•  parmesan cheese, grated

Directions

1. Remove sausage from casings. In a 5 quart (or larger) pot brown sausage. Drain excess fat. Add onions. Saute until tender.
2. Add beef broth, wine, tomatoes, carrots, catsup, Italian seasoning, garlic and celery. Bring to a boil. Simmer 30 minutes. Skim excess fat.
3. Stir in zucchini, tortellini, green pepper, and parsley. Simmer 30 minutes, covered, or until tortellini are tender.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Serve with grated parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top.
6. Enjoy!