AMY
I think so many of us have been to the chain restaurant that promises an unlimited supply of soups, salads and delicious garlicky carbs….sound familiar?? I haven’t been there in years, mostly because I’ve fallen in love with cooking. During one of our “famous” polar vortex days in early 2019, I was craving zuppa toscana soup and decided to do some research to try to recreate it.
Zuppa Toscana soup was a major go to choice for me when I ate out at the restaurant above. Once I realized just how few ingredients it takes to make it, I knew I just had to try to make it at home. This easy zuppa toscana soup is now officially a must have in my house on cold days in the midwest.
Spicy, Sweet, Salty & Satisfying
I have been in love with Zuppa Toscana soup since the first time I tried it. It’s spicy, sweet, salty and so satisfying. The half & half provides a nice subtle creaminess without being too heavy. If you want a somewhat creamier option, then use the heavy cream. I’m all about comfort when it comes to food and heavy cream screams comfort to me. Do whatever your heart desires.
The sausage is slightly spicy and perfectly seasoned, which is why I go easier on the salt than normal. The honey provides a touch of sweetness and the addition of the kale gives it a nice added texture. Kale holds up so nicely in soups, it’s one of the sturdier greens out there & it’s also super good for you. The addition of kale totally discounts the amount of fat in the soup, right?!
Seriously, what’s not to love about my easy zuppa toscana soup? I’m honestly waiting for your answer. . . . . .
Mix it up…
If you’re looking for a vegetarian option to this soup; leave out the sausage, but definitely add in the beans. If you go this route, you will want to add in red pepper flakes, to taste. If you want to go down the more traditional road, then use pork sausage. Any of these options will result in a delicious and satisfying soup.
PrintEasy Zuppa Toscana Soup
This soup is great as a stand-alone meal or paired with half a sandwich. I served mine with a delicious bacon grilled cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 – 6 people 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Dutch Oven
- Cuisine: Soup
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- 1 pound ground turkey or chicken sausage, either mild or hot – the choice, is yours!
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon ground fennel seeds
- 3 cloves garlic, grated
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 1 ½ pounds red skinned potatoes, finely chopped
- 1 ½ tablespoons honey
- Salt & pepper
- 1 cup half & half (or heavy cream)
- 1 cup milk of choice (just not sweetened or flavored)
- 2 large handfuls kale, stemmed and chopped into bite sized pieces
- Optional: 1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- Optional: crushed red pepper, to taste
- Garnish: Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Heat a large dutch oven over medium heat and add in enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Once the oil is hot, add in the turkey sausage. Season it with a pinch of ground pepper and ¼ teaspoon ground fennel. Use a potato masher to achieve a fine crumble on the sausage. Once it’s browned, remove from the pan and drain on paper towel.
Add more oil, if needed and then add in the shallot. Season it with salt and stir until shallot is soft and translucent. This will take about 3 – 5 minutes. Lower the heat if they start to cook too quickly.
Once the shallot is soft, add in garlic and ¼ teaspoon ground fennel. Sauté for one minute in the pan.
Add in stock, honey and season with salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce to simmer. Add the sausage to the pot and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 1 hour.
Once the liquid simmered for 1 hour, add in potatoes and simmer for about 10 minutes, or until potatoes are cooked through. Then add in the chopped kale and simmer for about 5 minutes more.
Stir in half & half, warm it through and then serve!
Cool the soup completely, place in a sealed container and store in the fridge for about a week. Honestly, with any kind of soup, stew, sauce or chili; the longer it sits the better it gets! Enjoy!!
Keywords: zuppa, easy zuppa, easy zuppa toscana, zuppa toscana, soup, easy soup