Italian Sausage Spinach and Wild Rice Soup with Veggies

Italian Sausage Spinach and Wild Rice Soup with Veggies

Cook's Notes:  
I’m not even sure about the origin of the recipe title. I just call it Italian Sausage, Spinach, and Wild Rice Soup with Veggies since those are the main ingredients. It’s filling and delicious – making it a great choice for a light and healthy weeknight supper (or Sunday night supper when you feel ready to compensate a bit for a weekend of indulgences.) The recipe calls for wild rice which is delicious but may be difficult to find depending on where you live. But I’ve made it with a packet of a blend of long grain and wild rice which was good too. So, use what you have – it will still be tasty and delicious.

Busy day ahead or company coming? It's nice to have a warm pot of soup simmering to serve. Recipe adapted from BHG Soups and Stews 2016

This soup tastes even better on the second day. Can be made in a slow cooker 3 hours high heat or 4-5 hours low heat. Cook until veggies are al dente. 
Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground pork, chicken, turkey sausage (casings removed), or Italian Sausage
• 4 cups water
• 2- 14.5 oz. can low-sodium beef broth or 1 can chicken broth and 1 can beef broth (both low sodium) 
• 1- 14.5 oz. can no-salt-added diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano, undrained
• 1-6 oz. can tomato paste
• 1 cup sweet onion, diced
• 2 cups cooked wild rice or a packet of long-grain and wild rice
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup each carrots, celery, green beans, zucchini or sugar snap peas cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1/2 tablespoon Italian seasoning, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Dash crushed dried red pepper
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 small package fresh baby spinach, chopped, stems removed
• 1/2 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese (2 ounces)

Directions:

• In a large skillet cook meat over medium heat until no longer pink, using a wooden spoon to break up meat as it cooks; drain off fat. Crumble and set aside. 
• Saute onions and garlic. Return meat back to soup pot. 
• In a soup pot combine cooked meat, water, broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, onions, garlic, carrots, celery, green beans, cooked wild rice, or packet of long grain and wild rice, Italian seasoning, paprika, black pepper, salt, sugar, and crushed red pepper.
• Cook on low heat for 50 minutes. Stir torn spinach leaves into soup last 10 minutes of cooking time and serve topped with grated Parmesan cheese.
  
  
  
  
  Summer Smoothies