Italian Sausage Soup with Red Wine, Zucchini and Orzo from Gretchen

My sister-in-law, Gretchen, lives in New Hampshire but close enough to the coast to get hit by nor'easters.  When we checked in with her today, they were getting hit hard. She was making a soup on this cold, snowy day.  She said is so good that even one of their pickiest friends likes it!  so I asked her to share the recipe with us.  

I am looking forward to making it myself.  Thanks, Gretchen!

---Barbara  

Italian Sausage Soup

• 1 ½ pounds ground Italian Sausage
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 large onion chopped
• 1 16 oz can chopped Italian tomatoes
• 1 16 oz can stewed tomatoes
• 1 ½ cups dry red wine
• 5 cups beef broth
• ½ tsp dried basil
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• 3 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 3 medium zucchini sliced ¼ “ thick
• 2 cups orzo
• Salt and pepper
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese


Directions

In heavy stockpot, cook sausage until brown—drain and reserve

In 3 tablespoons of the fat sauté the garlic and onions— 2-3 minutes

Add tomatoes stirring

Add wine, broth, basil, oregano— simmer uncovered for 30 minutes

Skim excess fat from top of soup

Add parsley, zucchini, orzo, salt and pepper and reserved sausage

Simmer covered 25 minutes

Serve topped with Parmesan

Flavors deepen by preparing a day in advance

Enjoy,
Gretchen