Lasagna Soup
I hate this time of year. The weather goes back and forth between winter and spring. It’s such a tease to get a taste of warmer weather only to have slushy snow the next day. I’m ready for longer days, farmers markets and sunshine. I look forward to winter every year, something about snow and scarves and cold nights by the fire is romantic, but I’m kind of over it four months later. Sadly, the last days of winter seem to be keeping spring at bay just a little longer. The one thing that’s made this season easier for me is soup. It’s my ultimate cold (rainy, slushy, snowy) weather comfort food, so I’m taking this opportunity to share a new favorite with you before it warms up for good (or, you know, until fall gets here again).
Lasagna is not something I ever thought about in soup form, but now that I’ve tried it I can’t help but wonder why. This soup has all the components of lasagna – pasta, Italian sausage, fire roasted tomatoes and lots of cheese – without any of the work. The soup would be delicious on its own and sort of reminded me of this soup, but the cheese mixture makes this soup truly crave-worthy. It’s hearty, comforting and easy to make, and I imagine we’ll be having it again before the cold weather disappears.
- COOK TIME:
- YIELD: 8 servings
For the soup:
2 teaspoons olive oil
1½ pounds Italian sausage, casings removed
2 medium onions, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons dried oregano
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 28-ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
2 bay leaves
1 quart chicken broth
2 cups beef broth
8 ounces fusili or other curly pasta
⅓ cup finely chopped basil
For topping:
8 ounces ricotta
½ cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Freshly ground black pepper
- 1
Heat the oil in large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium heat. Add the sausage, using a wooden spoon to break it up, and cook until browned. Add the onions and continue cooking until softened, 6-7 minutes. Add in the garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes and tomato paste and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes.
- 2
Stir in the tomatoes, bay leaves, chicken broth and beef broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, for 20-30 minutes. Add the pasta and cook until just al dente. While the pasta is cooking, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella and pepper in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- 3
Taste the soup and add salt and pepper as needed, then remove from heat and stir in the basil. To serve the soup, ladle the soup into serving bowls and top with a (heaping) spoonful of the cheese mixture. Alternately, you can add the cheese mixture to the bowl first and ladle the soup on top.
Oh yum! I make a soup like this and it’s totally one of my favorites!
Oh yum! I make a soup like this and it’s totally one of my favorites!
I just made a soup like this last night that I’d found on another blog. There was less broth called for in the recipe and the noodles ended up sucking up all the broth! Next time I will make it with your recipe or I will cook the noodles in a separate pot and add them when serving. But overall, great recipe – look forward to trying your version!
I am so with you – winter was fun for a while, but I am very much over it these days. I swear we haven’t seen the sun in weeks, it’s killing me! But like you said, it’s a good excuse to eat soup and this one sounds fantastic!!
I am so with you – winter was fun for a while, but I am very much over it these days. I swear we haven’t seen the sun in weeks, it’s killing me! But like you said, it’s a good excuse to eat soup and this one sounds fantastic!!
Sounds delicious!
I want this soup in my belleh like… right freakin’ now.
I’ve had a wicked bad soup craving for the past few days, but today it’s really bad. I think it has something to do with the fact that we’re ankle-deep in slush and it’s been sleeting non-stop since last night. 🙁
Spring can’t come fast enough, as far as I’m concerned. I’m a SO over this winter crap.
I want this soup in my belleh like… right freakin’ now.
I’ve had a wicked bad soup craving for the past few days, but today it’s really bad. I think it has something to do with the fact that we’re ankle-deep in slush and it’s been sleeting non-stop since last night. 🙁
Spring can’t come fast enough, as far as I’m concerned. I’m a SO over this winter crap.
The idea of filling a tomato soup with noodles and cheese is so comforting. Much easier than making a full lasagna too! 🙂
The idea of filling a tomato soup with noodles and cheese is so comforting. Much easier than making a full lasagna too! 🙂
This is such a fitting dish for what I think we’re all hoping is the last week or two of winter! So over it and ready for warmer weather again. 🙂
This is such a fitting dish for what I think we’re all hoping is the last week or two of winter! So over it and ready for warmer weather again. 🙂
I’m so glad you guys liked this, and your picture is totally making me put it on our menu next week. I love how good yet easy/quick this soup is.
I’m so glad you guys liked this, and your picture is totally making me put it on our menu next week. I love how good yet easy/quick this soup is.
We’re the same way with soup, it definitely is a cold weather comfort food! Love the idea of lasagna in soup form!
We’re the same way with soup, it definitely is a cold weather comfort food! Love the idea of lasagna in soup form!
This soup sounds so wonderful! It sounds so easy and delicious!
It’s 100* outside today and humid, something I’m not use to in San Diego CA. I am looking forward to a San Diego winter day, brisk 60 degrees, dropping into the low to mid 50’s at night, and warming up with a great bowl of soup. This one is the first I’m going to try, it sounds delicious and my grandkids will love it. Thank you so much for your wonderful site.