Tortellini Soup
Servings 8
Ingredients
**For the Soup:**
- 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons of tomato paste
- 1 cup of cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 tablespoon of finely minced garlic
- 2 cups of half and half
- 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour
- 4 cups of chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons of softened cream cheese
- 1/4 cup of finely chopped sundried tomatoes
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese adjust to taste
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 10 to 12 ounces of cheese-stuffed tortellini
- 1 tablespoon of finely chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh basil
- A large handful of chopped spinach
**For the Ground Beef:**
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 pound of ground beef
- 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of salt
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
- Add ground beef and season with Italian seasoning, paprika, red pepper flakes, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt. Break up the meat into small pieces and cook until browned.
- Remove the ground beef and set it aside.
- In the same pot, add lemon juice and butter to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits.
- Add garlic, cherry tomatoes, and tomato paste. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes.
- In a separate cup, whisk together half and half and all-purpose flour until smooth. Add it to the pot along with chicken broth, stirring well.
- Add cream cheese, sundried tomatoes, and parmesan cheese. Mix until combined.
- Season with salt and black pepper.
- Return the ground beef to the pot along with tortellini. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes until tortellini is softened.
- Stir in spinach, fresh basil, and parsley.
- Serve warm and enjoy the cozy flavors of winter in a bowl!