Hearty Italian Soup (full Meal)

Total Time: 3 hrs Preparation Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 3/8 liters tomato juice
• 1 (796 ml) can of herb crushed tomatoes
• 2 3/4 liters chicken broth (save the tomato juice can and fill it twice with water using 2 chicken oxo or chicken broth)
• 1 medium onion
• 6 hot italian sausages
• 12 -15 meatballs
• 2 cups small shell pasta
• 1 (350 g) package fresh tortellini (i prefer the cheese filled rainbow tortellini)
• 1 (475 g) container fresh soft ricotta cheese
• 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
• italian spices, to taste. (i use oregano, and basil)
• salt and pepper

Recipe

• 1 i make this in a large 12 cup stock pot.
• 2 remove the casing from the sausages.
• 3 tear in small pieces and fry with a small amount of olive oil.
• 4 cook 3/4 of the way through.
• 5 do the same with the meatballs unless you are using frozen precooked ones.
• 6 add in the diced onion once the sausage has started to fry.
• 7 set aside.
• 8 in the stock pot add all the tomato juice, tomatoes,chicken stock,garlic and spices.
• 9 add in the sausages, onions and meat balls.
• 10 simmer for 2-3 hours tasting and adding your own herbs and salt and pepper to your liking.
• 11 add in the pasta shells and tortellini.
• 12 add in the tub of ricotta cheese stirring thoroughly.
• 13 cook for approx 10 minutes.
• 14 serve with parmesan cheese and crusty bread.