Thrifty Tuscany Forum

[carlos50]

how do you make your...
zuppa toscana soup

[athdara]

I make a really simple one:

1 cup heavy cream
2 cans chicken stock

--OR--
1 can chicken stock & 1 can water

1 T chopped garlic
1/2 small onion, finely diced
S&P to taste
Sliced or chunked yukon potatoes
Bring above to a boil then reduce to a simmer, stirring occasionally.

Slice and gently brown some italian sausage (no skin). Add the sausage to the simmering soup and let soup cook on low heat for 20 mins.

In the last 7 mins, add in chopped kale (about a handful) and another 1/2 cup heavy cream. Let simmer until the kale has wilted and started to combine and the potatoes are tender and almost falling apart.

Serve with crusty bread and some shaved parmesan on top!

NOTE: If you gently sautee/soften the onions before adding to the soup, it is better. That is what I do. I gently heat them in a little oil and let them soften.

If you don't want to use onion, I have also used LEEKS (cleaned well, of course) chopped. That is great too!

[daine]

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana
servings: 2 as an entree or 4 as an appetizer

½ pound spicy or mild Italian sausage
2 3/4 cups chicken stock or broth
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 medium russet potato, scrubbed and unpeeled
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
2 cups chopped kale

Remove sausage from skin and crumble, fry until done. Drain off fat.

Combine broth and cream in a sauce pan over medium heat. Slice the unpeeled potatoes into 1/4 inch slices, then quarter the slices and add to the soup. Add the sausage, spices and kale. Let simmer on low for about an hour, stirring occasionally.
-------------------------

Zuppa Toscana Soup like Olive Garden's®

Serves: 12

1 lb. spicy Italian sausage - crumbled
1/2 lb. smoked bacon - chopped
1 qt. water
(2) 14.5 oz. cans chicken broth
2 lg. russet potatoes - cubed
2 garlic cloves - crushed
1 med. onion - chopped
2 cups chopped kale OR Swiss chard
1 cup heavy whipping cream
salt and pepper - to taste

--In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown sausage, breaking into small pieces as you fry it; drain, set aside.
--In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown bacon; drain, set aside.
--Place water, broth, potatoes, garlic, and onion in a pot; simmer over medium heat until potatoes are tender.
--Add sausage and bacon to pot; simmer for 10 minutes.
--Add kale and cream to pot; season with salt and pepper; heat through.