Rich and creamy Tortellini Soup: chicken broth, cheese tortellini, fresh spinach, salty bacon, nutty Parmesan cheese, and white wine to balance it all out.
8-10slicesthick cut baconchopped into 1/2 inch pieces
1 1/2tbspbutter
4cupsbaby bella mushroomsliced
1/3cupshallotabout 1 large/ minced
1tbspgarlic2-4 cloves/minced
3tbspall-purpose flour
1/4cupdry white wine
5cupschicken broth
1tspkosher salt
Fresh Cracked pepperto taste
2sprigs fresh thyme
1bay leaf
4cupsrefrigerated cheese tortelliniabout 12 oz
4cupsfresh spinachroughly chopped
2cupscreamhalf & half or heavy cream
1/2cupshaved Parmesanplus more for garnish
Pinchground nutmeg
Sour Creamfor topping
Instructions
Cook Bacon- in a large stockpot over medium heat, add a touch of cooking oil. Add pieces of thick-cut bacon (sliced into 1/2 inch pieces) and cook, stirring every so often, until desired crispiness is reached - 6-12 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked bacon to a paper towel lined plate to drain the grease and set aside.
Saute Vegetables- drain most of the bacon grease from the stockpot, leaving about 1 tbsp. Turn heat down to medium-low and melt 1 tbsp of butter. Add sliced baby bella mushroom, stir to coat, and sauté for 4-6 minutes until mushrooms have softened and started to brown. Add minced garlic and minced shallot and sauté, stirring often, for an additional 60-90 seconds until fragrant.
Add Flour & Soup Base- sprinkle flour over vegetable mixture and stir until fully incorporated into vegetables and has a pasty look. Slowly whisk in 1/2 cup of chicken broth, followed by white wine. Whisk until smooth and there are no lumps of flour left, about 30 seconds. Whisk in remaining chicken broth, kosher salt, fresh cracked pepper, sprigs of thyme, and bay leaf. Turn heat up until soup reaches a bubbling simmer, then lower heat back to medium-low and let simmer for 4 minutes.
Finish- add cheese tortellini and let simmer until tortellini are nearly cooked through. (Tortellini cooking time will vary by brand. Check your package of tortellini for approx. cooking time) Add cream, roughly chopped spinach, shaved Parmesan cheese, pinch of ground nutmeg, and chopped bacon pieces to pot. Stir and bring soup back to a simmer. Let simmer for another 2-3 minutes until tortellini are cooked through and spinach has wilted. Remove thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Scoop a bowl and top with sour cream and more shaved Parmesan.
Notes
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. (Use your best judgment when eating leftovers. If you notice any unusual smells or textures, discard soup)Tortellini cooking time will vary by brand. Check your package of tortellini for approx. cooking time. If cooking time reads 3 minutes or less, add cream, spinach, bacon bits and Parmesan at the same time as tortellini.Half & half or heavy cream are great options for soup. Both of these have a high fat content, making them able to withstand heat and be mixed with an acid without curdling.
Keyword baby bella mushrooms, bacon, cheese tortellini, dry white wine, easy soup recipe, easy weeknight dinner, one pot meal, parmesan, soup with tortellini