Lasagna Soup

We made some slight modifications to this recipe.
1) I can never find cool pastas...it's pretty lame. So I used some leftover rigatoni.
2) I won't can't eat ricotta, so I used a mixture of mozzarella and 5-cheese Italian mix with the Parmesan. You could also use cottage cheese, but my husband never would have eaten it if I used it.

Brenda suggests to cook the pasta separate. I find this to be easier and then your noodles don't get bloated and overcooked. It's a great tip that I will be using in noodled pastas to come!

(Print)
What you need:

• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 1/2 lb. Italian sausage
• 3 cups chopped onion
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
• 2 tbsp. tomato paste
• 1 (28 oz.) can fire roasted diced tomatoes
• 2 bay leaves
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 8 oz. mafalda or fusilli pasta
• 1/2 cup fresh basil, finely chopped
• Salt and pepper
• 8 oz. ricotta
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• Pinch ground pepper
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large pot or dutch oven. 
2. Add sausage and cook for 5 minutes, crumbling as you go.
3. Add onions and cook for 6 more minutes. 
4. Then add garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes; cook for 1 more minute or until fragrant.
5. Add tomato paste and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
6. Add diced tomatoes, bay leaves, and chicken stock. 
7. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. 
8. Add basil and salt and pepper, to taste.
9. In a separate pot, cook pasta until al dente; drain. 
10. You'll want to do this towards the end of your soup cooking time :)
11. In a bowl, combine ricotta, Parmesan, 1/4 tsp. salt, and pinch of pepper.
12. Place a little of the cheese mixture into each serving bowl.
13. Top cheese with a little pasta and then ladle over some soup.
14. Very, very last, sprinkle as much or as little mozzarella as you want on top. Enjoy!

Recipe from A Farm Girl's Dabbles