I’ve mentioned this soup before. It was the inspiration for one of our favorite family pasta dishes, this Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta. It’s so loved and works wonders at comforting even a Southern California winter chill that my mom makes it all the time. It’s meaty, creamy, seasoned impeccably, and even has a wholesome blend of vegetables that know well enough not to interfere with the superstar that is sausage.
It’s so easy to make and can be adapted to use any vegetables you have on hand or prefer. The combination of finely chopped zucchini 🥒, celery, tomatoes, and spinach are great flavor and texture compliments to the richly seasoned Italian sausage since they basically melt and blend into the creamy soup, while still maintaining a little bit of bite. Depending on taste, opt to use spicy sausage or kick up the heat with more red pepper flakes. Also, there’s just something so special about sausage paired with fennel. Most Italian sausage is already seasoned with the anise-like flavor, but adding in extra fennel is a must to highlight that vivid, sweet spiciness. And the secret to making this soup that bit more special is whisking in just enough cream cheese to take this from a brothy soup to a heartier creamy one.
This recipe comes together quickly for a really satisfying dinner (especially for soup!) that’s warming and delicious. With all the elements of a hearty meal, it’s scarfed down in heaping bowlfuls with record speed no matter how big the batch.
