Parmesan Italian Sausage Soup
On a chilly evening, nothing compares to the comfort of a steaming bowl of homemade soup. This creamy parmesan Italian sausage soup transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-worthy meal that'll have everyone asking for seconds. As a professional chef who's spent fifteen years perfecting Italian comfort foods, I've refined this recipe to strike the perfect balance between rich, creamy indulgence and authentic Italian flavors. Whether you're an experienced home cook or just starting your culinary journey, this comprehensive guide will walk you through creating a soul-warming soup that's sure to become a family favorite.
Ingredients
- - 1 pound Italian sausage casings removed
- - 2 cups heavy cream 36-40% fat
- - 1½ cups freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- - 4 cups chicken broth
- - 2 medium yellow onions diced
- - 6 garlic cloves minced
- - 8 cups fresh spinach
- - 2 tablespoons olive oil
- - 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- - 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- - ½ teaspoon black pepper
- - Salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in Dutch oven over medium heat
- Brown sausage until golden (7-8 minutes)
- Remove sausage, reserve fat
- Sauté onions until translucent (5-6 minutes)
- Add garlic, cook 2-3 minutes
- Return sausage to pot
- Add broth, bring to simmer
- Cook 10 minutes
- Reduce heat, add cream
- Add seasonings
- Simmer 10 minutes
- Stir in Parmesan until melted
- Add spinach in batches
- Simmer additional 10-15 minutes
- Rest 5-10 minutes before serving
Notes
Pros:
- One-pot preparation minimizes cleanup
- Ready in under an hour
- Freezer-friendly base (before adding cream)
- Easily customizable spice level
- Perfect make-ahead meal
- Rich in protein and calcium Cons:
- High in calories and fat
- Not suitable for lactose-intolerant individuals
- Can curdle if not heated properly
- Expensive due to quality cheese requirement
- Limited vegetable content in base recipe
- One-pot preparation minimizes cleanup
- Ready in under an hour
- Freezer-friendly base (before adding cream)
- Easily customizable spice level
- Perfect make-ahead meal
- Rich in protein and calcium Cons:
- High in calories and fat
- Not suitable for lactose-intolerant individuals
- Can curdle if not heated properly
- Expensive due to quality cheese requirement
- Limited vegetable content in base recipe