Pizza Soup

For those of you heading to the slopes for skiing or tobogganing over the weekend, this Pizza Soup is the perfect "warmer-upper" for when you get home tired and hungry. Not only is it easy to put together, but it holds amazing well and truly makes the house smell like there's a pizza in the oven.

Loaded with ground beef and pepperoni (yup, you read right), mushrooms, onions and green pepper, it has everything a fully loaded pizza should have but with a bonus of a nice beefy tomatoey broth. I added some perciatelli broken into short pieces, but tortellini or even mini ravioli makes for a heartier soup. One could even add a can of cannellini beans and make a whole new kind of minestrone. I guess what I'm sayin' is just add what you like and make it your own.

Garnished with grated cheese, add some crusty rolls for dipping and you've got a wholesome, filling, family pleasing dinner. Download Pizza Soup

Pizza Soup (inspired by Southern Living)

1 pound extra lean ground beef

6 ounces pepperoni

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 large onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1-1/2 cups sliced mushrooms

1-1/2 teaspoons dried basil

1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

Red pepper flakes to taste

1 – 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes

1/4 cup tomato paste

4 cups low sodium beef broth

1/2 cup small pasta (optional)

Salt & pepper

Garnish with grated cheese

Heat vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven. Slice pepperoni into half inch cubes and add to pot along with ground beef. Stir to crumble beef and cook until beef is no longer pink. Remove from pot and drain excess fat and set aside. Add onion, green pepper and garlic to pot. Sauté until vegetables are soft – about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms, basil, oregano and red pepper flakes. Cook for 5 more minutes until mushrooms have softened. Return meats to the pot and add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and beef broth. Bring to a boil, and then lower to simmer, cover and cook for 30 minutes. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper as required. Add pasta; remove from heat, cover and let sit for 10 minutes until pasta is cooked. Serve garnished with grated cheese. Serves 8. 

 

 

Comments

[pam]

I'm modifying this for the slow cooker!

[June]

Pam - you go girl! One certainly could if one were so inclined to like to use one. LOL

[Nanan]

Great minds? I made homemade pizza today!!!! Now off to make your Pear Pie from a few days ago!!!

[June]

Yum Lea - wish I could pop in for a bite! I've got a powerful craving for something sweet and unfortunately the pie is gone...as is the chocolate torte. Oh me oh my..I love me some pie.