Description
A hearty and creamy Italian-American soup inspired by Olive Garden’s famous Zuppa Toscana, featuring spicy Italian sausage, tender potatoes, kale, and a rich blend of chicken broth and heavy cream, all topped with crispy bacon crumbles.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Base
- 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy), casings removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup water
Vegetables
- 4 medium russet potatoes, thinly sliced or diced
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 bunch kale, stems removed and leaves chopped
Dairy and Toppings
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Instructions
- Cook the sausage: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook until browned and crumbled, about 6–8 minutes. Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: In the same pot, add the diced onion and sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add liquids and potatoes: Pour in the chicken broth and water. Add the sliced potatoes and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Season with salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer the potatoes: Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 10–15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
- Add kale and sausage: Stir in the chopped kale and cooked sausage. Simmer for another 5 minutes until the kale is wilted.
- Finish with cream: Stir in the heavy cream and cook for 2 more minutes until heated through.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and top each serving with crumbled cooked bacon before serving.
Notes
- Substitute spinach for kale for a different leafy green option.
- For a lighter version, replace heavy cream with half-and-half.
- This soup reheats well and often tastes better the next day as flavors meld.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
