Description
Hearty Zuppa Toscana soup brings Tuscan countryside warmth to kitchen tables with rich sausage, potatoes, and kale dancing in creamy broth. Comfort meets Italian tradition in this soul-satisfying dish you’ll savor down to the last spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 4 russet potatoes
- 1 large white onion
- 2 cloves garlic
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Garnish and Flavor Enhancers:
- 4 ounces (113 grams) roughly chopped bacon
- 2 cups chopped kale
- Salt to taste
- Ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat a large soup pot over medium heat and brown the sausage until crumbled, approximately 10 minutes. Drain excess grease, leaving a tablespoon for enhanced flavor. Transfer cooked sausage to a separate plate.
- In the same pot, melt butter and sauté diced onions until softened, about 5 minutes. Incorporate minced garlic, hot sauce, soy sauce, and seasonings. Stir for one minute until aromatic.
- Sprinkle flour into the pot, continuously stirring for 2 minutes to eliminate raw flour taste and slightly thicken the soup. Ensure constant movement to prevent scorching.
- Gradually pour chicken broth while stirring to prevent lumps. Add heavy cream in small increments. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Slice potatoes into 1/4-inch thick rounds and add to the simmering liquid along with previously cooked sausage. Simmer for 10 minutes or until potatoes reach tender consistency.
- Introduce chopped kale and cook for an additional 5 minutes, maintaining slight texture without allowing leaves to become overly soft.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed before serving hot. The soup will thicken slightly as it cools.
Notes
- Replace sausage with plant-based alternatives like crumbled tempeh or vegan sausage for a vegetarian version that maintains rich, savory flavors.
- Swap heavy cream with coconut milk or cashew cream to create a dairy-free option while keeping the soup’s creamy texture and luxurious mouthfeel.
- Toast flour briefly before adding liquid to enhance nutty undertones and prevent raw flour taste, creating deeper complexity in the soup’s overall flavor profile.
- Consider using bone broth instead of regular chicken broth for extra protein and enhanced nutritional value, which boosts the soup’s health benefits without compromising taste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg