Spring Tortellini Soup (Printable)

Light soup with cheese tortellini, spring vegetables, and fresh herbs. Ready in 35 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 9 oz fresh cheese tortellini

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 2 medium carrots, sliced
06 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
07 - 3.5 oz sugar snap peas, trimmed and halved
08 - 3.5 oz baby spinach

→ Broth & Seasonings

09 - 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
10 - 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
11 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
12 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (optional)

→ Garnishes

13 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
14 - Zest of 1 lemon
15 - Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, to serve

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
02 - Add carrots and zucchini; cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften.
03 - Pour in the vegetable broth, salt, pepper, and Italian herbs. Bring to a gentle boil.
04 - Add tortellini and sugar snap peas. Simmer according to tortellini package instructions (usually 3–5 minutes), until pasta is al dente and peas are bright green.
05 - Stir in spinach and cook until just wilted, about 1 minute. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with parsley, lemon zest, and Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 40 minutes but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
  • The combination of lemon zest and fresh herbs makes every spoonful feel like spring arrived early
  • You can easily swap vegetables based on what is in your crisper drawer
02 -
  • Tortellini continues soaking up broth as it sits, so if you are not serving immediately, the soup will become thicker and more stew like
  • The lemon zest is not optional, it is the secret ingredient that makes this soup taste like spring instead of just vegetable soup
03 -
  • Cook your tortellini separately if you know you will have leftovers, then add them to individual bowls when serving
  • Reserve a handful of fresh parsley to sprinkle at the very end for the brightest flavor and prettiest presentation