Tortellini & Zucchini Soup

From EatingWell: October/November 2006, EatingWell for a Healthy Heart Cookbook — Subscribe Now!

Everyone knows tortellini make a quick weeknight pasta dinner—but they also add substance that turns this quick, colorful vegetable soup into a meal. One caveat: Read the label carefully; avoid pasta products made with hydrogenated oils or unnecessary preservatives. Enjoy this soup with a slice of multigrain baguette and a spinach salad.

READER'S COMMENT:

"I love this recipe! I've made it probably 10 times now, and I had to leave a comment. It's perfect when you're short on time, it's chilly out and you want some healthy comfort food. When made correctly, it looks exactly like the picture...

6 servings, about 1 1/2 cups each

Active Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Nutrition Profile

Low calorie | Low cholesterol | Healthy weight | High fiber | View Complete Nutrition Guidelines»

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 large carrots, finely chopped
1 large onion, diced
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
2 14-ounce cans vegetable broth
2 medium zucchini, diced
9 ounces (about 2 cups) fresh or frozen tortellini, preferably spinach-&-cheese
4 plum tomatoes, diced
2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar

Preparation

Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add carrots and onion; stir, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and just beginning to brown, 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in garlic and rosemary and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Stir in broth and zucchini; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini is beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add tortellini and tomatoes and simmer until the tortellini are plump and the tomatoes are beginning to break down, 6 to 10 minutes. Stir vinegar into the hot soup just before serving.

Nutrition

Per serving: 203 calories; 8 g fat (2 g sat, 4 g mono); 10 mg cholesterol; 28 g carbohydrates; 7 g protein; 4 g fiber; 386 mg sodium; 400 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (80% daily value), Vitamin C (35% dv).

2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1 starch, 2 vegetable, 1 1/2 fat