From the category archives:

Mediterranean Quick and Easy Recipes

Steamy Italian Sausage Soup with Tortellini

Soupy
Creative Commons License photo credit: Nieve44/La Luz

This recipe can make 8 servings.  Preparation time is 20 minutes while cooking time is 1 hour and 15 minutes.  The soup will be ready in 1 hour and 35 minutes.  Each serving has 324 calories.  Total fat content is 20.2g, cholesterol 50mg, sodium 1145mg, carbs 19.1g, protein 14.6g and total dietary fiber is 3.1g.

Ingredients

Sweet Italian sausage (casings removed) – 1 pound
Onion (chopped) – 1 cup
Garlic (minced) – 2 cloves
Beef broth – 5 cups
Water – 1/2 cup
Red wine – 1/2 cup
Tomatoes (peeled, seeded and chopped) – 4 large pieces
Carrots (thinly sliced) – 1 cup
Fresh basil leaves (packed) – 1/2 tablespoon
Oregano (dried) – 1/2 teaspoon
Tomato sauce – 1 (8 oz) can
Zucchini (sliced) – 1 1/2 cups
Fresh tortellini pasta – 8 ounces
Fresh parsley (chopped) – 3 tablespoons

Directions

1.  Brown sausage using a five quart Dutch oven.  Remove the sausage and drain.  Reserve one tbsp of the drippings.

2.  Use the drippings to sauté the garlic and onions.  Pour the beef broth, wine and water then add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, carrots, Basil, oregano, and the sausage.  Stir the mixture and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.  Leave it uncovered.

3.  Remove the fat from the soup.  Add the zucchini and parsley and stir.  Simmer again for another 30 minutes. Add the Tortellini.  Garnish each serving with Parmesan cheese.  Serve hot.

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Nutritious Double Tomato Bruschetta Treat

Bruschetta
Creative Commons License photo credit: SummerTomato

This recipe makes 12 servings. Prep time 15 minutes while cooking time is 7 minutes.  It should be ready in 35 minutes.  Each serving contains 215 calories, 12mg cholesterol, 426mg sodium, carbs 24.8g, dietary fiber 1.6g, and protein 9.6g.

Ingredients

Sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil) – 1/2 cup
6 Roma plum tomatoes (chopped)
3 cloves garlic (minced)
Olive oil – 1/4 cup
Balsamic vinegar – 2 tablespoons
Basil (fresh, stems removed) – 1/4 cup
Salt – 1/4 teaspoon
Ground black pepper – 1/4 teaspoon
1 French baguette
Mozzarella cheese (shredded) – 2 cups

Directions

1.  Put the oven on broiler setting and pre-heat it.

2.  Mi the Roma tomatoes, minced garlic, olive oil sun dried tomatoes, Basil, vinegar, pepper and salt in a large mixing bowl.  Set aside to allow the mixture to sit for approximately 10 minutes.

3.  Slice the French baguette into ¾ inch slabs.  Get a baking sheet and arrange the slices of baguette in one layer.  Broil the baguette for about 2 minutes or until the slices are slightly brown.

4.  Spread the tomato mixture over the slices of baguette. Make sure the mixture is divided properly.  Then top the baguette with Mozzarella cheese.

5.  Place in oven and broil for about 5 minutes or until the Mozzarella cheese has melted.  Serve.

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