Tortellini Soup, Tortellini en Brodo
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Fancy, multi-stepped soup recipes can be nice, but everyone has those days when they just want to make something fast and warming. Enter tortellini en brodo!
Tortellini, those wonderful dimpled pasta pockets, were named after Venus' navel and with good reason -- like thoughtful art, pasta has inspired many to swoon.
Just three ingredients make the easiest soup you can imagine... bulk it up if you wish with other harmonious ingredients, noted at the bottom.
Cook Time
Ingredients
- 1 bag tortellini, about 13 ounces, frozen. Or, choose a fresh type -- they tend to be sold in 8-ounce bags.
- 8 cups salt-free broth, or your favorite kind. I mix my own from soup starter, but use boxed if that's what you prefer.
- Parmesan or Pecorino cheese, to taste. For ease of use, I buy pre-grated, but a fresh wedge of cheese is preferable.
- Oregano or parsley, dry (optional, but it does make the soup look prettier.)
Instruction for the Easiest Soup, Tortellini en Brodo
- Cook the tortellini two minutes shorter than specified on the package. If you're cooking fresh tortellini, be especially careful as these require a much shorter cooking time than frozen.
- Drain the pasta and set aside.
- While the tortellini is cooking, prepare the broth. Either use boiling water and flavored powder, or pour out some boxed broth. Be sure your pot is large enough. Heat it up. (Almost done!)
- Add the drained tortellini to the simmering broth, and heat until the pasta is warmed through.
- Ladle into waiting bowls or mugs, and sprinkle with Parmesan and oregano as preferred.
- Enjoy with crusty bread and good company.
Nutrition Facts for Tortellini Soup
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving size: 1 cup tortellini, 2 cups broth, 1 tbsp. cheese | |
| Calories | 260 |
| Calories from Fat | 45 |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Fat 5 g | 8% |
| Saturated fat 3 g | 15% |
| Unsaturated fat 0 g | |
| Carbohydrates 42 g | 14% |
| Sugar 2 g | |
| Fiber 3 g | 12% |
| Protein 19 g | 38% |
| Cholesterol 23 mg | 8% |
| * The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA. | |
Tortellini in Broth Variations
For variety, include any of the following if you're a vegetarian:
- fresh baby spinach leaves or finely chopped cabbage
- rinsed, drained kidney or cannelini beans
- fresh or frozen peas, thawed
If you eat meat, I suggest these additions:
- chopped chicken
- cubed ham
- lean sausage, sliced
To enrich the broth and provide a tasty umami infusion for the cheesy tortellini, squeeze in some tomato paste before adding the tortellini. Stir until the paste is dissolved and the broth becomes a deep pinkish tone.
As noted in the ingredients section, I like to add a sprinkling of dry oregano or parsley. (I prefer fresh herbs, but they are often expensive and I don't have a garden... yet.) The heat of the soup softens the herb and the smell as you lift the spoon to your waiting lips is wonderful!
Price of Tortellini Soup Made at Home
Ingredient
| Approximate Cost
| Total
|
|---|---|---|
Bag of tortellini, about 13 ounces
| My store brand was on sale for 4 packages for $5 (wow!), but I've seen fresh Barilla for under $3 a package.
| $2.59
|
Grated cheese
| I managed to find 8 ounces of grated imported Pecorino for $4, but you can buy a small wedge of fresh Parmesan, the King of Cheeses for about three dollars,with plenty left over for spaghetti later!
| $3.00
|
Broth
| Usually 2 boxes for about $3.
| $3.00
|
Additions like spinach or chicken
| A small box of frozen spinach costs about $.79, and a leftover chopped chicken breast would cost a little over a dollar.
| $2.00
|
Four servings =
| $10.59, or $2.64 a serving! Without the addition of extra ingredients, the soup would cost about $2.15 per person.
|
A similar soup would cost a pretty penny in a restaurant, but by making this at home you can keep the ingredients of high quality and still enjoy dessert!
Things to Remember
If you make this soup and there are leftovers, remember that the pasta will soak up some of the liquid in the pot, becoming larger and softening dramatically. They will look intact, but after heating and serving, will fall apart in your mouth.
It's not necessarily a bad thing, though. This is an especially good soup for household sickies, who need something more substantial than Gatorade, but are afraid to eat something too heavy. A cup of this, eaten slowly and plain (no cabbage or beans, etc.), will make them feel better without causing tummy issues.
