Fall Dinner Recipes (Print Version)

Ingredients:

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil.
02 - 1 pound Italian sausage, casing removed.
03 - 1 small onion, diced.
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced.
05 - 4 cups chicken broth.
06 - 3 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed.
07 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme.
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground sage.
09 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes.
10 - 1/2 cup heavy cream.
11 - 1 package (9 oz) cheese tortellini.
12 - Salt and pepper, to taste.
13 - Fresh parsley for garnish (optional).

Instructions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
02 - Add the diced onion and garlic to the pot and sauté until the onion is translucent, about 3 minutes.
03 - Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add the butternut squash, thyme, sage, and red pepper flakes. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the squash is tender, about 15-20 minutes.
04 - Using a hand blender, blend the soup until smooth, or transfer the mixture to a blender and blend in batches.
05 - Stir in the heavy cream and tortellini, and cook until the tortellini are tender, about 5-7 minutes.
06 - Season with salt and pepper to taste, and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes:

01 - For a smoother texture, blend the soup before adding tortellini.
02 - Use fresh parsley for garnish to add color and flavor.
03 - Adjust red pepper flakes to desired spice level.