Description
Hearty zuppa toscana showcases classic Italian soup flavors with creamy potatoes, spicy sausage, and tender kale. Generous portions and rich ingredients make this comforting dish perfect for family dinners you’ll savor with warmth and satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 4 strips bacon, chopped
- 3 medium russet potatoes, thinly sliced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups kale, chopped
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Bacon Preparation: Crisp golden bacon in a spacious pot over moderate heat, approximately 5 minutes. Remove bacon, reserving the rendered fat for subsequent cooking stages.
- Meat Foundation: Crumble Italian sausage in the same pot, browning thoroughly and releasing robust flavors. Drain excess lipids after complete protein caramelization.
- Aromatic Development: Sauté diced onions until translucent, introducing minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and optional red pepper flakes. Allow spices to bloom and infuse the base with intense fragrances.
- Liquid Integration: Pour chicken broth into the pot, embedding sliced potatoes. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat, allowing potatoes to tenderize and absorb surrounding flavors for 12-14 minutes.
- Final Composition: Fold chopped kale into the simmering mixture, letting leaves wilt seamlessly. Reduce heat and incorporate heavy cream, creating a velvety, luxurious consistency. Adjust seasoning with salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste.
- Serving Presentation: Ladle soup into serving bowls, garnishing with crisp bacon fragments and a generous Parmesan cheese sprinkle. Serve alongside rustic bread for an authentic Tuscan culinary experience.
Notes
- Optimize Bacon Rendering: Cook bacon slowly to extract maximum fat and achieve perfect crispness without burning, ensuring rich foundational flavor for the soup.
- Control Meat Browning: Break sausage into small, uniform pieces while cooking to promote even caramelization and prevent clumping, which enhances overall taste profile.
- Manage Potato Texture: Cut potatoes into consistent bite-sized chunks to guarantee uniform cooking and prevent some pieces from becoming mushy while others remain undercooked.
- Balance Cream Integration: Add heavy cream at the final moment and avoid boiling to prevent separation, maintaining a smooth, silky soup consistency without curdling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg