Tortellini soup, known in Northern Italy as Tortellini en Brodo (in broth), is a traditional first course served during holiday meals, especially Christmas.
You can make this delicious simple soup any time of year. Tortellini can be quite filling. This tortellini soup makes a hearty meal on its own served with some Italian bread.
We used fresh tortellini bought at the supermarket. There are many varieties of fresh tortellini available. We chose a five-cheese blend to keep this meal meatless.
For added protein and flavor we included some shrimp in this recipe. We used wild caught shrimp that were frozen and deveined. All we had to do was thaw them and remove the skin and tails. Adding 5-6 shrimp per person should do the trick. The shrimp help flavor the broth and give the soup a little something special.
Shrimp are low in calories and carb free. They are rich in nutrients such as selenium, vitamin B12, iron, phosphorus, niacin, zinc, magnesium, and iodine. Shrimp are also a good source of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. No wonder they are one of the world’s favorite shellfish.
Although shrimp are relatively high in cholesterol, it’s the good cholesterol. Studies have shown that shrimp can help increase HDL levels (the good cholesterol) and decrease triglycerides, both of which are important factors in reducing the risk of heart disease.
Try tortellini soup at your next family get-together. You can have this meal on the table in less than an hour. It’s sure to please.
Tortellini en Brodo - Tortellini Soup
Ingredients
- 1 shallot finely diced
- 1 carrot chopped
- 2 stalks celery chopped
- 2 cloves garlic sliced thin
- 1 inch red chili pepper diced
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup white wine optional
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 sprig fresh thyme
- 1 twist lemon peel about 2 inches
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
- 64 ounces chicken broth
- 5-6 per person shrimp raw, peeled and deveined
- 20 oz fresh cheese tortellini
- parmesan or romano cheese for garnish
Instructions
- Put shallot, carrot, celery, garlic, and chili pepper into a soup pot. Cover with water and wine. Add salt, pepper, thyme, lemon peel, and nutmeg. Cover with lid and boil until vegetables are soft.
- Add chicken broth, cover, and bring to a boil.
- Add shrimp and continue to boil for 1 minute.
- Add tortellini and continue to boil for 3-4 minutes depending on package instructions.
- Remove lemon peel and thyme.
- Serve sprinkled with parmesan cheese.
Notes
