Sonoma Tortellini Minestrone

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 3 ounces sun-dried tomatoes
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 lb lean ground beef
• 1/2 lb sweet italian sausage, casings removed
• 2 tablespoons italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese, grated
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup onion, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 cup carrot, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
• 3 tablespoons fresh basil, 1/4-inch strips
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 cup tortellini
• 2 small zucchini, sliced

Recipe

• 1 slice dried tomatoes into 1/4-inch wide strips; place in small bowl.
• 2 add the boiling water; set aside.
• 3 in large bowl, combine ground beef, sausage, bread crumbs, 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and egg with hands, mix well.
• 4 shape mixture into 3/4 inch meatballs.
• 5 in 6 quart dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat.
• 6 add meatballs; brown on all sides.
• 7 remove to bowl.
• 8 to drippings in pan, add onion and garlic; saute until golden.
• 9 spoon off fat from pan.
• 10 return meatballs to pan; add tomatoes and their liquid, carrot, italian seasoning, basil, beef broth and tortellini.
• 11 heat to boiling over medium-high heat.
• 12 reduce heat to medium; cover; simmer 15 minutes.
• 13 add zucchini; cover and cook 5 minutes or until zucchini is crisp-tender and tortellini is al dente or softer, if desired.
• 14 pass additional parmesan cheese.