Healthy Zucchini Tomato Italian Sausage Soup | Creeach Fam Recipes | Umami

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pound Italian sweet sausage, removed from casings
• 1 cup diced celery
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 2 cups red bell pepper, diced (about one large pepper)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• A pinch red pepper flakes
• ¼ cup tomato paste
• 2 pounds zucchini cut into bite-sized pieces
• 5 fresh plum tomatoes, diced
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 quarts (2 l) low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
• 1 cup coarsely grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon of parmesan rind (optional)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• 1 fresh thyme sprig
• 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese for garnish, optional