The Coziest Zuppa Toscana Recipe for Chilly Evenings

Crafting a hearty zuppa toscana brings comfort right to your kitchen table with minimal effort.

Warm Italian-inspired soups always spark conversations around shared meals.

Robust flavors dance between spicy sausage and tender potatoes, creating a memorable dining experience.

Kale adds a vibrant green touch that makes this dish both nutritious and delicious.

Home cooks appreciate simple recipes that deliver maximum satisfaction without complicated techniques.

Rich and creamy textures blend perfectly with each carefully selected ingredient.

You’ll want to ladle this soup into bowls and watch everyone’s faces light up with pure culinary joy.

Why Zuppa Toscana Is A Creamy Comfort In A Bowl

• Comfort in a Bowl: A hearty soup packed with rich flavors and tender ingredients that wrap you in warmth and satisfaction.
• Quick Kitchen Hero: Simple step-by-step instructions make this recipe accessible for home cooks of all skill levels, requiring minimal culinary expertise.
• Crowd-Pleasing Performance: Perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or casual gatherings where everyone craves a delicious, filling meal that sparks conversation.
• Nutritional Powerhouse: Combines protein-rich sausage, crispy bacon, nutrient-dense kale, and satisfying potatoes for a balanced and nourishing dish that keeps you full and energized.

What Goes Into Zuppa Toscana

• Bacon: Adds a smoky, crispy flavor to the soup.
• Italian Sausage: Provides a rich, spicy meat component to the recipe.

• Onions: Offers a sweet and aromatic base for the soup.
• Garlic: Adds a pungent and deep flavor to the dish.
• Potatoes: Creates a hearty and filling texture in the soup.
• Kale: Brings a nutritious and vibrant green element to the recipe.

• Chicken Broth: Forms the liquid foundation of the soup.
• Heavy Cream: Adds richness and creates a creamy texture.
• Salt, Black Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes, Italian Seasoning: Provides a balanced and complex flavor profile to the Zuppa Toscana.

How To Cook Zuppa Toscana At Home

Step 1: Brown the Bacon

Chop bacon into small bits and sizzle in a large pot over medium heat until golden and crispy, developing rich flavor. Use a slotted spoon to remove bacon, keeping the delicious rendered fat in the pot.

Step 2: Cook Sausage Crumbles

Tumble italian sausage into the same pot, breaking it into small pieces. Cook thoroughly until no pink remains, creating a savory base for the soup.

Step 3: Sauté Aromatic Vegetables

Transfer cooked sausage to a plate. Toss chopped onions into the pot’s remaining drippings, stirring until they become soft and translucent. Add minced garlic and quickly cook until wonderfully fragrant.

Step 4: Build the Soup Base

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Red pepper flakes
• Italian seasoning

Step 5: Simmer and Soften

Bring the mixture to a rolling boil, then reduce heat. Let the soup gently simmer until potatoes become fork-tender, about 15-20 minutes.

Step 6: Combine Protein Elements

Stir the reserved sausage and bacon back into the soup, allowing flavors to mingle and intensify.

Step 7: Create Creamy Texture

Stream heavy cream into the soup, stirring gently. Warm through without letting it boil.

Step 8: Add Vibrant Greens

Roughly chop kale and fold into the soup. Cook briefly until leaves wilt but maintain their bright green color.

Step 9: Final Seasoning and Serve

Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Ladle the steaming soup into deep bowls and enjoy immediately.

Tips To Make Zuppa Toscana Even Better

• Crisp Up Bacon Perfectly: Cook bacon slowly and evenly over medium heat to ensure golden, crunchy pieces that add amazing texture and flavor to the soup.
• Prevent Sausage Clumping: Break italian sausage into small, uniform crumbles while cooking to distribute meat evenly and create consistent bites throughout the soup.
• Select Potato Wisely: Choose starchy potatoes like russet or yellow potatoes that hold their shape during cooking and provide a creamy, satisfying texture in the zuppa.
• Balance Spice Levels: Adjust red pepper flakes based on personal heat preference – start with a small amount and gradually increase for desired warmth without overwhelming the dish.
• Preserve Kale's Vibrancy: Add kale during the final cooking minutes to maintain its bright green color and prevent overcooking, ensuring a fresh and nutritious addition to the soup.

Twists You Can Try With Zuppa Toscana

• Vegetarian Harvest Soup: Replace sausage and bacon with roasted butternut squash, white beans, and smoked paprika for a hearty plant-based version.
• Seafood Coastal Soup: Swap sausage with fresh shrimp and crab meat, using seafood stock instead of chicken broth for a maritime Mediterranean spin.
• Mediterranean Lamb Soup: Substitute italian sausage with ground lamb, add oregano, and include diced bell peppers for a rich Middle Eastern inspired variation.
• Spicy Southwest Soup: Use chorizo instead of italian sausage, add fire-roasted tomatoes, jalapeños, and top with cilantro and lime for a zesty southwestern flair.

Perfect Pairings For A Bowl Of Zuppa Toscana

• Pair Rustic Italian Red Wine: Robust Chianti or Sangiovese complements the hearty, spicy sausage and smoky bacon flavors perfectly.
• Create Crusty Garlic Bread Companion: Toasted sourdough or ciabatta slices rubbed with fresh garlic provide an ideal crispy texture to scoop up rich soup.
• Serve Fresh Herbed Salad Side: Light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette cuts through the soup's richness, balancing the creamy, meaty profile with bright, zesty notes.
• Select Crisp Pinot Grigio Alternative: Chilled white wine offers a refreshing contrast to the warm, spicy soup, cleansing the palate between spoonfuls.

How To Store Zuppa Toscana For Later

• Transfer cooled Zuppa Toscana to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Seal tightly to prevent absorption of other food odors and maintain freshness.
• Freeze the soup without the cream for optimal texture. Place in freezer-safe containers, leaving some space for expansion. Frozen soup stays good for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Warm soup slowly in a pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of chicken broth to restore moisture if the soup seems too thick. Avoid boiling to prevent cream from separating.
• Portion leftovers into single-serving containers for easy grab-and-go meals.

FAQs On Zuppa Toscana You Should Know

• What makes Zuppa Toscana a popular Italian soup?

The soup combines classic Italian flavors with hearty ingredients like sausage, potatoes, and kale, creating a rich and comforting dish that’s both rustic and satisfying.

• Is this soup spicy?

The recipe includes red pepper flakes, which add a mild heat. You can adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to control the spice level according to your preference.

• Can I make this soup healthier?

You can use turkey sausage instead of traditional Italian sausage, reduce the cream, or add more vegetables to increase the nutritional value while maintaining the delicious flavor profile.

• What kind of potatoes work best for this recipe?

Starchy potatoes like Russet or Yukon Gold are ideal because they hold their shape well and provide a creamy texture to the soup when cooked.

Zuppa Toscana Recipe

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4.7 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty Zuppa Toscana celebrates Italian comfort with creamy potatoes, spicy sausage, and tender kale simmered in a rich broth. Comfort meets flavor in this soul-warming soup that brings Tuscan countryside warmth straight to your kitchen.

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Ingredients

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Proteins:

• 1 lb italian sausage
• 0.5 lb bacon

Vegetables:

• 2 medium onions
• 4 cloves garlic
• 3 russet potatoes
• 2 cups kale

Liquids and Seasonings:

• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 tbsp italian seasoning

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Instructions

1. Dice bacon into small pieces and cook in a large pot over medium heat until crispy and golden brown, about 5-7 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving rendered fat in the pot.
2. Add italian sausage to the same pot, breaking it into small crumbles. Cook until completely browned and no pink remains, approximately 8-10 minutes.
3. Transfer cooked sausage to a separate plate, leaving drippings in the pot.
4. Sauté finely chopped onions in the remaining fat, stirring frequently until translucent and soft, about 4 minutes.
5. Mince garlic and add to the onions, cooking for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
6. Peel and slice potatoes into bite-sized cubes, then add to the pot along with chicken broth, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and italian seasoning.
7. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
8. Stir in cooked sausage and bacon, allowing flavors to meld for 2-3 minutes.
9. Pour in heavy cream and stir gently, heating through without boiling.
10. Roughly chop kale and add to the soup, cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes until leaves are wilted but still vibrant green.
11. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed, then serve hot in deep bowls.

Notes

• Choose thick-cut bacon for maximum flavor and crispy texture, ensuring it renders enough fat for sautéing vegetables.
• Use hot Italian sausage to add extra spice and depth to the soup’s overall flavor profile.
• Consider removing sausage casings before cooking for more even crumbling and better distribution throughout the soup.
• Slice potatoes uniformly to guarantee consistent cooking and prevent some pieces from becoming mushy while others remain undercooked.
• Avoid boiling the soup after adding cream to prevent separation and maintain a smooth, creamy consistency.
• Substitute kale with spinach or Swiss chard for a different nutrient-packed green option.
• For a lighter version, replace heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk to reduce calories.
• Make the soup vegetarian by swapping sausage and bacon with plant-based alternatives like smoked tempeh or mushrooms.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 405
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 1100 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 26 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 15 g
• Cholesterol: 75 mg