If you like Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana then boy are you gonna be happy about this post. I've only had it from Olive Garden once but i say this soup is just as good as what you get in the restaurant. I made this the other night and we all enjoyed it. Gavin will eat anything but I don't think that diminishes how much he enjoyed this. Jer doesn't love Olive Garden but loves this soup. I love this soup. Avery ate it. Which, if you know her, is an accomplishment. She's not necessarily picky, she just doesn't eat much. Anyway, on the the recipe.
Zuppa Toscana
6 c water
6 chicken bouillon cubes (I suspect that 6 c chicken broth would work)
2 large potatoes sliced, or diced
1 lb Italian sausage
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
6 slices bacon
2 c chopped kale
1 c heavy cream
Chop veggies first in preparation to make everything easier as you go. Boil potatoes in water and bouillon until tender, about 10 minutes. Brown Italian sausage, onion and garlic. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels.
Brown bacon. Mix into the broth with the sausage.
Add chopped kale and heavy cream. Warm through but don't boil. Enjoy.
I have made this twice with ground turkey in place of the Italian sausage in an effort to make it a little healthier and because I felt like the Italian sausage was just a bit spicy. Not necessarily too spicy, just a little on the spicy side for me. Jer says, though, that he feels its a little bland without the sausage. Though its got good flavor from the chicken broth and garlic. Next time I might try half ground turkey, half Italian sausage to make us both happy. The kale adds really nicely as far as texture goes. It's one of my favorite parts of this soup.
That's about all I've got for this one. I love this soup. Let me know if anyone decides to try it out.
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