Italian Sausage & Zucchini Soup

Ingredients

• 1 lb mild Italian sausage
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 fennel bulb, finely chopped
• 1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
• 1 lb zucchini, grated
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh marjoram or 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• bay leaf
• salt and pepper

Lemon-Garlic Seasoning

• 1/2 lemon, zest of
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Directions

1. 1

   In frying pan, turn sausages over medium heat until evenly browned.

2. 2

   Drain on paper towels and cut into 1/4 inch slices.

3. 3

   Heat oil in saucepan over medium-high heat.

4. 4

   Add onion, garlic, fennel, and pepper, cooking 4-5 minutes, until softened.

5. 5

   Add zucchini, stock, and herbs.

6. 6

   Stir in sausage, reduce heat to low and simmer 20 minutes.

7. 7

   Season with salt and pepper.

8. 8

   Discard bay leaf.

9. 9

   For the lemon-garlic seasoning, chop together lemon zest, garlic and parsley and add to soup.

10. 10

    Stir until heated through.