if you don’t have homemade pesto in the freezer, you can buy good quality pesto at the grocery.
ITALIAN SAUSAGE SOUP
8 ozs. Italian sausage See Note*
2 cups chicken broth
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano
½ cup uncooked small pasta (I use acini de pepe)
2 cups bagged baby spinach leaves
3 tablespoons pesto
Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add sausage to pan, and cook until browned, stirring to crumble.Drain.
Add broth, tomatoes, and pasta to pan, and bring to a boil over high heat.Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until pasta is done.Remove from heat, stir in spinach until wilted.Stir in pesto.
Makes 4 servings.
Note* I use half hot Italian sausage and half mild.I buy 8 ozs. of each, brown and drain the meat, then divide in half, leaving 8 ozs. for the pot of soup I’m making and 8 ozs. to freeze and use for the next batch.