Rustic Farro & Pork Sausage Soup

Fall is upon us here in the mitten state, and now is the perfect time to indulge in hearty, weather appropriate soups.  I tend to lean towards crockpot meals such as soups and casseroles to help get my family through the colder months. This latest recipe is jam- packed with favor, and has quickly become a family favorite.

This easy recipe is called a rustic farro and pork sausage soup which is also topped with fresh parmesan and parsley. Its a one pot recipe making it easier to make with far less mess and dishes making clean up a breeze.

Ingredients:
1.      1 large carrot
2.      1 yellow onion
3.      2 medium sized Roma tomatoes
4.      18 oz Italian sausage
5.      1\4 oz fresh parsley
6.      1 town Tuscan spice blend
7.      1 1\2 cup Fargo
8.      1\2 cup chicken stock
9.      1\2 cup parmesan cheese

Directions:
1.       Wash and dry all produce
2.      Remove sausage from casing
3.      In a large pan, drizzle some olive oil over medium heat and add in the sausage
4.      Break up the meat into small pieces and cook until browned for approximately 5 minutes
5.      Dice up tomato and peel and cut carrot into small pieces
6.      Pick parsley leaves from stems and finely chop into pieces
7.      Add the tomato, 1\2 the parsley, and 1\2 the Tuscan spice and the Fargo into pot with sausage and cook
8.      Stir in chicken stock and add 6 cups of warm water
9.      Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat, letting it simmer until the farro is tender, approximately 25-30 minutes
10.     Once Fargo is cooked, add in 1\2 the parmesan into soup mixture
11.      Taste and season with salt and pepper to taste
12.     Divide soup into two bowls, topping the remaining parmesan cheese and parsley on each.
13.     Serve with garlic bread or your favorite type of bread
14.     Enjoy

Modifications:
* use a different protein such as ground turkey or chicken
* add in fresh garlic
* in addition to fresh parsley, add in fresh basil

This recipe is the perfect rainy- day recipe or cool chilly fall day go-to! There are modifications that you can make to personalize this dish, and it is a hearty, easy-to-make and simple dish! Hope you enjoy!