Description
This hearty Zuppa Toscana Soup combines smoky bacon, spicy Italian sausage, tender potatoes, and nutritious kale in a creamy broth, delivering a comforting Italian-inspired meal perfect for cozy dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Bacon
- 6 pieces bacon, chopped
- 1 pound spicy ground Italian sausage
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ½ pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 4 cups roughly chopped kale
Seasoning and Liquids
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Cook the bacon: In a large pot over medium heat, add the chopped bacon and sauté until browned, about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon to a paper-towel lined plate and spoon out excess oil, leaving about one tablespoon in the pot to cook the sausage and add flavor.
- Cook the onions: Add the diced onions to the pot, increase heat to medium-high, and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Then, add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Cook the sausage: Add the spicy ground Italian sausage to the pot, breaking it up with a spatula, and cook until thoroughly browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Add the potatoes and broth: Stir in the cut Yukon Gold potatoes, Italian seasoning, and low-sodium chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.
- Add the kale, bacon, and cream: Once the potatoes are tender, stir in the roughly chopped kale, cooked bacon, and heavy whipping cream. Mix well and let the soup simmer for another 5 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Garnish and serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish with freshly ground black pepper before serving. Enjoy warm.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- For 4 cups of roughly chopped kale, use approximately 4 to 5 large kale stems or about half a bunch.
- To make it less creamy, reduce the heavy cream quantity or substitute with half-and-half for a lighter option.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to control the salt content.
- If you prefer, you can substitute spicy Italian sausage with mild Italian sausage or turkey sausage for a different flavor profile.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 2 cups)
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 510 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
