Ingredients: |
Ingredients: White Sauce (see below for preparation instructions)
A 14oz. box or can of low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
1 1/2 cups of fresh sliced mushrooms (I would use a mix of different mushrooms to enhance the earthy flavor. Think shiitake, cremini, button, portobella…)
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1/2 cup fresh chopped onion
3 cloves minced garlic
1/2 tsp. crushed basil (you can use dry or fresh, but be sure to adjust to flavor. I tend to prefer fresh herbs)
A pinch of salt (1/8 tsp or less. A little salt is acceptable to enhance flavor, but don’t overdo it)
1/4 tsp. crushed oregano (fresh or dry, just like the basil)
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
6 cups fresh baby spinach (it sounds like a lot but it will wilt as it warms up, so don’t panic)
1 package (7 or 8 oz.) dry cheese tortellini
Ground black pepper to taste
Freshly grated parmesan or pecorrino romano cheese on the side to serve with the soup
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Directions: |
Directions:In a skillet, melt your 2 Tbsp. of unsalted butter on medium heat. Add your mushrooms and onion, saute until their juices are starting to release and their aroma becomes apparent. Don’t cook them entirely as you’re going to put them into the Crock Pot to finish cooking. Season with your small amount of salt and your black pepper. Set aside.
Pour your broth into your Crock Pot and add your tortellini, garlic, basil, oregano, and cayenne pepper to it. Give it a brief mix, then add your mushrooms. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours until your tortellini are al dente (slightly firm).
While your Crock Pot works away, make your white sauce. Using the same pan from your mushrooms (hey, no sense in dirtying another pan, right?), melt 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter and add 6 Tbsp. all-purpose flour to it. Mix well until it is thick and smooth, creating a roux. This will help thicken your sauce without lumps! To that, add 2 cups milk and 1 cup evaporated milk (or just 3 cups of milk if you prefer… doesn’t matter), and stir well. Heat the mixture until it bubbles along the edges (DO NOT BOIL IT!) and thickens up, about 8 to 10 minutes. This will make a medium white sauce. Set it aside for now until your Crock Pot ingredients are almost done cooking. It will thicken a bit more as it cools.
During the last 20-30 minutes of cooking, add your white sauce and spinach to the soup and mix well. Allow it to warm up with the rest of your ingredients at the end of your cooking time; this will help you avoid curdling your milk/cream. The spinach will wilt a bit but remain green and not soggy if you don’t cook it for an excessively long period of time. Serve with the grated cheese on the side and warm, crusty bread. |
This recipe for CREAMY TORTELLINI SOUP is from