Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Brown sausage
- Brown hot Italian sausage in a large pot over medium-high heat, and drain excess fat.
- Continue browning until crumbled and browned, then stop cooking once the meat is cooked through and no longer pink.
Sauté aromatics and toast spices
- Sauté onion for 4 minutes, then add garlic, jalapeño, and tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes.
- Stir in red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, and cayenne, then cook for 1 minute until fragrant and deep red.
Simmer the soup
- Add crushed tomatoes, diced fire-roasted tomatoes, chicken broth, and Italian seasoning, then bring the mixture to a boil.
- Add broken lasagna noodles, reduce to a simmer, and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally until tender.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste, then taste and adjust before serving.
Make and serve the cooling cheese dollop
- Mix ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, and fresh basil until evenly combined into a spoonable topping.
- Serve the soup with a drizzle of chili oil and a cooling ricotta dollop on top for contrast.
Notes
Pro tip: Drain the sausage well before building the broth so the soup stays rich but not greasy. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; reheat gently until hot, adding a splash of broth if it thickens. Freezing is not recommended because lasagna noodles can soften too much. For a lighter option, use sweet or turkey sausage and reduced-fat ricotta/part-skim mozzarella to cut calories while keeping the creamy topping.
