Sausage And Spinach Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb italian sausage meat, broken up
28 ounces canned diced tomatoes (plain or with Italian herbs)
6 ounces tomato paste
6 ounces frozen spinach (or equivalent amount of canned or fresh)
1/2 cup white rice
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 tablespoon butter
8 cups water
salt and black pepper

Preparation

Sautee the onion in oil and butter until soft.
Add the sausage meat and stir-fry until no longer pink on the outside.
Add the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Add the water and bring to boil.
Add the canned tomatoes and the rice.
Cook until the rice and the sausage are done.
If using frozen spinach, add it early and break apart; if fresh or canned, add it a few minutes before the end.
Serve with grated mozzarella sprinkled on the top.