I was craving Lasagna but didn’t want something so heavy, so I made a lasagna soup instead. It’s all the flavors of lasagna in a bowl!
Another cold week with lots of snow in Denver and all that you want is comfort food but then you think, dang I can’t eat that. It’s January and the time that I am spending in the gym will be a waste! That’s what happened to me this week. I was craving lasagna, a big ol’ piece of Italian love. Dang the craving was there but my conscience said no until I decided that a soup would be good and lasagna soup came to be. I made this soup as healthy as I could. Tons of added vegetables, ground turkey, turkey sausage, part-skim ricotta cheese to make it decadent without adding cream and I made the pasta on the side so that I could control the portion size. It ended up being one of the best soups that I have ever made and maybe my new substitute for lasagna all together. To me, soup is love and this lasagna soup is a big dose of love!
As you have probably heard (it’s no secret) Coloradans love their beer. We were one of the first states to develop craft beers. Heck, I still remember the craft beer that I drank when I landed here on August 5, 1990. (I know weird but it was my Mom’s birthday). It was a 90 Shilling made by the Odell Brewing Company. It’s still one of my favorite beers but they have since gone mainstream (good for them) but since I am always on a quest to enjoy local small businesses, the door is wide open to experience the other 250 craft breweries on the front range! I better start drinking! Ha! Anyway, I was invited this week to try out St. Patrick’s Brewery in Old Littleton. Funny thing, I play tennis next to this brewery but have never stopped in. Big mistake! St. Patrick’s is adjacent to my favorite Creole restaurant. Lucille’s, in Denver so I’m not sure why I haven’t. What a nice surprise! Not only was the atmosphere awesome (tons of amazing artwork painted by the proprietor Chris), a beautiful fireplace, cool bar, a dance floor, the “actual” brewery, and the beer garden (we couldn’t enjoy this because it was covered in snow)! Supposedly, their beer garden was rated as one of the top 10 beer gardens in the country! That’s pretty impressive if I do say so myself. I digress… Let’s talk about their beers. Dang good stuff. First of all, I’m kinda a lager gal so St. Patrick’s is right up my alley. They specialize in lager beers but take it a step further. They take a “foodie” approach to crafting beers as they layer the flavors with seasonal ingredients that bring unexpected twists to the beer. I tasted some great beers but my favorite was their Luminosity Lager. It is a honey lager and voted as the best honey lager in the country. No wonder why I liked it! Good stuff. This week, St. Patrick’s is going to start serving Lucille’s famous food. This is a big deal because most of our breweries don’t serve food and another reason to make this brewery my new stomping ground! Make sure you stop by St. Patrick’s brewery. Totally worth it and you can thank me later! 🙂
Lasagna Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 28-ounce can tomato sauce
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 15-ounce container ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 pound of your favorite pasta cooked to package directions
- Parmesan cheese, for serving
- Fresh Parsley and Basil, serving
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Coat the bottom of a large stockpot with olive oil. Add the onions, garlic, carrots, and mushrooms. Saute for about 5 minutes. Add the ground turkey, sausage, salt, pepper, bay leaves, and Italian seasoning. Cook until meat is no longer pink.
- Add the tomato sauce and chicken broth and simmer for 30 minutes. Do not boil just simmer on medium-low heat.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the ricotta and Parmesan cheese until melted.
- Place a handful (or whatever size you like) of pasta in a bowl. Ladle the soup over the pasta and top with chopped parsley, basil, and more Parmesan cheese.
Notes
You can’t miss St. Patrick’s. On the corner of Bowles and Santa Fe.
The beer making adventure begins here. I love that they make their beer in house!
Luminosity Lager, a tasty honey lager. Yes please, I’ll have another.
Beer humor. Dave (one of the owners) served my first beer in a “wine” glass because I am normally a wine drinker. He wanted me to feel at “home”. Funny.
Great to hear that Coloradans love their beer! Just like us in Australia! will certainly look forward to going on a brewery tour in Colorado on our next trip to the USA!
Jessica @ Margaret RIver Wine Tours recently posted…Margaret River Beer Bible
Hey there! Thanks for your post! My husband is Australian. You should definitely do a brewery tour in Colorado- there are plenty of them. We live in central Queensland when not in the USA.
This recipe was super yummy and amazing!! Now my family is requesting to have it once a week! Thank you for the recipe!
Hi!
Loved the soup, Just tried it and it’s perfect, but I guess, that’s for myself. Glad to read your blog, I am now a fan! Interested in the brewery tour, what’s your favorite craft beer?
Thanks for sharing!
Great to know! Thanks for telling me! So many great beers in CO, so hard to choose!
This soup recipe looks fantastic!! Guess what,, it’s cold in Louisiana this week, so I will have to try it.
Thanks!
Really! I don’t believe it! 50 degrees! LOL! I have been freezing for 2 weeks now! Eat more soup I say!
Miss you BTW! 🙂
Your steak is perfectly cooked just the way I like it. As far as I’m concerned, you are an expert when it comes to cooing on a grill. I’m the griller in our family and I’d love to know… Do you cook by time compared to thickness, use a meat thermometer, by feel or a combo of all three.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted…Pasta With Beans And Greens
When I cook a steak- I’m a “feel” kinda gal!
That’s the way I tend to cook too. Again, sorry about the misplaced comment. 🙂
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted…Pasta With Beans And Greens
All good! 🙂
Don’t know what happened but my computer stuck on another comment and has posted it here…sorry that the glitch appeared here, Heather.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted…Pasta With Beans And Greens
I figured as much but I thought I’d answer anyway! Computer glitches drive me nuts! Earlier this week I was sending and receiving emails in triplicate! So frustrating!
I joke that machines don’t like me and computers drive me crazy. I appreciate your understanding. 😀
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted…Pasta With Beans And Greens
We would get along great! 🙂
That brewery looks so similar to one that was in the town next to us in New Hampshire. Clever girl…developing a soup that makes your cravings for lasagna possible.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted…Pasta With Beans And Greens
Thanks Karen! I do love a good brewery and we are so lucky to have so many so close! This one just happens to be better than the rest! 🙂
I’ve driven by that place a hundred times and haven’t stopped either. AND, have never eaten at Lucille’s. This year I’ve made a promise to myself to stop at some of our local craft beer places. We’re getting quite the collection on the south side of town. Love that they served you beer in a wine glass. Good stuff. Great looking soup.
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) recently posted…Beans and Chicos
YOu have never been to Lucille’s? Sacrilege Lea Ann! Lets make that the next place we go to lunch!
great idea on the soup – it sounds delicious. I’d like to visit the brewery with you but after my last gout attack, I’m afraid to even try beer.
Larry recently posted…Flatiron Steak and Chris’ Hash
Oh no Larry! Sorry to hear this. I hope you can at least still enjoy a little wine!