Zuppa Toscana (Olive Garden Copycat!)
A savory, soup filled with tender potatoes, spicy Italian sausage, and kale in a delicate cream broth - YUM! It's a copycat version of an Olive Garden favorite and it's AMAZING!This recipe is based on one from Tiffany at Le Creme de la Crumb.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground hot Italian sausage see Notes for vegan options
- 4 tbsp. unsalted butter see Notes for vegan options
- ½ white onion diced
- 1 tbsp. minced garlic about 3 cloves
- 6 cups chicken broth see Notes for vegan options
- 2 cups water
- 1.5 lb. Yukon Gold potatoes cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tsp. salt use more if needed
- 1 tsp. black pepper freshly ground
- 1 cup heavy cream see Notes for vegan options
- 4 cups chopped kale
- crumbled bacon and/or grated parmesan cheese for topping optional; see Notes for vegan options
Instructions
- Brown the sausage in a large soup pot or Dutch oven, breaking it up as you go. Once browned and no longer pink, transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- While the sausage drains, melt the butter in the soup pot. Add the onions and sauté over medium heat until translucent. Add garlic and cook for another minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth and water. Add the potatoes, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and boil gently until the potatoes are tender. Stir in the heavy cream, then the kale and sausage. Simmer until the kale is wilted and the sausage is heated through. Adjust the seasonings as needed.
- Ladle soup into individual bowls and garnish with bacon crumbles and/or grated parmesan cheese, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Vegan Substitutes:
- Hot Italian Sausage: use a plant-based sausage, like Impossible Spicy Ground Sausage
- Unsalted Butter: use a plant-based butter, such as Myokos European-style Plant Milk Butter
- Chicken Broth: try Better than Bouillon No Chicken Base
- Heavy Cream: make your own by blending 2/3 cup of soy milk with 1/3 cup vegetable oil, or try a dairy-free heavy cream like Silk Heavy Whipping Cream Alternative
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: sub in nutritional yeast, like Bob's Red Mill
- Bacon Crumbles: I have yet to find a good vegan sub for bacon, so I just skip it. This soup is so amazing, you don't need it! But if you really want to give it a go, try this recipe from Sam Turnbull - she does great vegan food.
Nutrition Facts
Zuppa Toscana (Olive Garden Copycat!)
Amount per Serving
Calories
583
% Daily Value*
Fat
47
g
72
%
Saturated Fat
23
g
144
%
Trans Fat
0.3
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
4
g
Monounsaturated Fat
17
g
Cholesterol
128
mg
43
%
Sodium
1774
mg
77
%
Potassium
834
mg
24
%
Carbohydrates
25
g
8
%
Fiber
3
g
13
%
Sugar
4
g
4
%
Protein
17
g
34
%
Vitamin A
2240
IU
45
%
Vitamin C
39
mg
47
%
Calcium
113
mg
11
%
Iron
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.