Description
Zuppa toscana soup brings hearty Italian comfort straight from Tuscany’s rustic kitchens. Creamy potatoes, spicy sausage, and tender kale combine in a rich broth that warms souls and satisfies hungry diners with each delightful spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Meats:
- 1 lb (450g) Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 medium russet potatoes, thinly sliced
- 2 cups kale or spinach, chopped
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Parmesan cheese for garnish
Instructions
- Render bacon in a spacious cooking vessel over medium flame until achieving a golden, crisp texture. Extract the pieces using a perforated utensil, preserving the rendered fat.
- Introduce Italian sausage to the identical pot, fragmenting the meat while browning thoroughly. Extract and reserve the sausage, maintaining the flavorful residue.
- Sauté diced onions in the existing drippings until translucent and soft. Incorporate minced garlic and optional red pepper flakes, allowing aromatics to bloom for approximately one minute.
- Stream chicken broth into the pot, elevating heat to generate a rolling boil. Introduce sliced potatoes, reduce temperature to a gentle simmer, and allow potatoes to tenderize for 10-12 minutes.
- Integrate previously cooked sausage, crisp bacon fragments, and verdant kale leaves into the simmering liquid. Continue cooking until kale wilts and becomes tender.
- Reduce heat and gently fold heavy cream into the soup, warming thoroughly without permitting the mixture to reach a vigorous boil.
- Calibrate seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Ladle into serving bowls and crown with a delicate sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese for an elegant finishing touch.
Notes
- Choose thick-cut bacon for extra crunch and flavor, ensuring it renders out maximum fat for deeper taste profile.
- Select spicy Italian sausage if you want more heat, or mild version for gentler flavor experience.
- Slice potatoes uniformly to guarantee even cooking and consistent texture throughout the soup.
- Avoid boiling after adding cream to prevent potential separation and maintain smooth, silky consistency.
- Rinse kale thoroughly to remove any dirt and remove tough stems for tender, delicate leafy greens.
- Consider using lactose-free cream or coconut milk to make the recipe dairy-free and accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Fresh Parmesan cheese adds significant depth, so grate it directly before serving for maximum flavor intensity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 1000mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 19g
- Cholesterol: 90mg