Lasagna Soup

[runamyrun]

Last night I made this soup for my family. We LOVED it! The recipe calls for red pepper flakes. I didn't know how spicy it would be, so I followed the recipe. It was too spicy for my kids. Next time I think I will only use half of what the recipe calls for. Also, I don't like sausage, so I left it out. It still was yummy. I hope you like it too! Oh, and I got the recipe from Family Fun magazine.

Lasagna Soup
2 tsp. olive oil
1 1/2 lbs. Italian sausage (bulk or with casings removed)
2 onions, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
6 cups chicken broth
2 bay leaves
8 oz fusili pasta (I used rotini)
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh basil
8 oz ricotta
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1/4 tsp salt
pinch of pepper
2 cups shredded mozzarella

1. In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the sausage and saute, breaking it up into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until the sausage is no longer pink, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the pot. Add the onions and saute until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes and saute for 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and saute until the paste turns a rusty brown, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juice, the broth, and the bay leaves and bring the soup to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes.
2. Add the pasta, then increase the heat to medium-high and boil the soup until the pasta is tender to the bite, following the time recommendations on the pasta package. Discard the bay leaves, then stir in the basil. If desired, season with salt and black pepper to taste.
3. In a small bowl, combine the ricotta, the Parmesan, the 1/4 tsp of salt, and the pinch of pepper. To serve, place a bout 1 1/2 Tbsp. of the ricotta mixture in each bowl, sprinkle with some of the mozzarella, and ladle the soup on top. Makes about 13 cups.

[5ft Diva]

This sounds good. I'm gonna give it a try. Thanks, RAR.

[LostnFound]

Thanks RAR, I needed a good new soup recipe. This sounds so yummy!!

[Meticulous madness]

Does sound good!

On the sausage, did you just use ground sausage (like ground beef in the package)?

[5ft Diva]

That's what I was planning on using myself. (Or ground beef.)

[natickgirl]

Sounds good. I make minestrone (an Italian soup) frequently. I've never thought of adding ricotta to make it more like lasagna. Yummm.

[runamyrun]

I didn't use sausage this time, but when I make it next I plan on using the ground sausage.

[runamyrun]

NG, in some ways it reminded me of minestrone. I love minestrone! Oh, and my husband said that he put more than 1 1/2 Tbsp. of the ricotta mixture in his bowl and he liked it more. I liked it better with slightly less. I like it when you can tweak recipes for each person.

[Meticulous madness]

Sorry. I just re-read the top of your notes, and you said that you left out the sausage.

I'd probably use ground beef myself, just because I have it already. But, I bet the sausage does add a really good, (spicy) flavor.