A nourishing bowl featuring spicy sausage, tender sweet potatoes, tortellini, and fresh spinach in a creamy broth.
# What You'll Need:
→ Sausage and Seasoning
01 - 12 ounces spicy Italian sausage, crumbled
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
04 - 1 teaspoon paprika (regular or smoked)
05 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, plus more to taste
→ Vegetables and Flavorings
06 - 1 large sweet potato (about 12 ounces), peeled and cubed
07 - 5 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
09 - 4 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
10 - 4 ounces fresh spinach
→ Liquids and Pasta
11 - 6 cups water
12 - 8 ounces refrigerated three-cheese tortellini
13 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
# Directions:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large, high-sided pot over medium heat. Add the crumbled sausage and cook, stirring frequently, until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess grease.
02 - Sprinkle the cooked sausage with Italian seasoning and paprika. Stir well to evenly coat.
03 - Incorporate cubed sweet potatoes, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and tomato paste. Mix thoroughly to combine all flavors.
04 - Pour in the water. Increase heat to bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the tomato paste.
05 - Reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender.
06 - Add refrigerated tortellini to the pot. Cover and cook at a gentle boil for 10 minutes, or according to package instructions, until pasta is tender.
07 - Stir in fresh spinach and cook until just wilted, approximately 1 minute.
08 - Remove the pot from heat. Gently stir in heavy cream until fully incorporated.
09 - Season to taste with salt and additional red pepper flakes if desired. Garnish with fresh thyme before serving.
