Zuppa Toscana Soup (Print Page)
Hearty Italian soup with sausage, potatoes, kale, and creamy broth for cozy comfort.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 14 oz Italian sausage (mild or spicy), casings removed
→ Vegetables
02 - 4 medium russet potatoes, thinly sliced
03 - 1 medium onion, diced
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 5 oz fresh kale, chopped
→ Dairy
06 - 1 cup heavy cream
07 - 1 oz grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)
→ Liquids
08 - 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
09 - 1 tbsp olive oil
→ Seasonings
10 - 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
11 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the sausage, breaking it into crumbles with a wooden spoon, and cook until evenly browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer the sausage to a plate and set aside.
02 - In the same pot, cook the diced onion until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and stir for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add the sliced potatoes and chicken broth to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 12 to 15 minutes, until the potatoes are just tender.
04 - Return the browned sausage to the pot along with the chopped kale. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes until the kale is wilted and tender.
05 - Reduce heat to low and stir in the heavy cream. Season with red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper to taste. Heat through gently without bringing to a boil.
06 - Ladle into bowls and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve with crusty bread alongside.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The creamy broth absorbs every bit of sausage fat and garlic, making each spoonful taste like it simmered all day when it barely took fifty minutes.
- Kale holds its texture surprisingly well, giving you tender potatoes and snappy greens in the same bite without turning into mush.
02 -
- Boiling the soup after adding cream will cause it to separate and look curdled, so keep the heat low and patient once dairy enters the pot.
- Thin potato slices are the single biggest factor between a soup that comes together quickly and one that leaves you waiting around poking at stubborn chunks with a fork.
03 -
- Resist the urge to drain the fat after browning the sausage because that rendered fat is carrying more flavor than anything you could add from a jar.
- Slice the potatoes as evenly as humanly possible so they all finish cooking at the same time instead of leaving you with a mix of mushy and crunchy.