Oof…zuppa toscana! This HAD to be one of the first recipes I posted on here because it has become one of my favorites to make during the fall and winter months. It’s warm and hearty, but also delicious and loaded with fiber, lean protein, and antioxidants!
Zuppa Toscana translates to Tuscan soup and is a broad term for a soup that is made from ingredients native to the Tuscany region in Italy. Foods like beans, carrots, celery, and onions are pretty standard. Here in North America, Zuppa Toscana was popularized by Olive Garden where the soup is made with potatoes, sausage, kale, heavy cream, and bacon bites. It’s delicious, but it is definitely…well…a more Americanized version to say the least.
I hope you like this recipe! It was something I did not start making until I was in my junior year at MSU. I like to use chicken or turkey sausage in place of regular Italian sausage as a leaner protein option, but you could use regular Italian sausage as well. I would highly recommend eating it with some warm bakery bread and topping it with some parmesan cheese as well. Buon appetito!
Zuppa Toscana (Sausage and Kale Soup)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian chicken or turkey sausage
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3-4 large carrots, diced
- 4-5 celery stalks, diced
- 3 cloves of garlic, diced
- 64 ounces low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 30 ounces cannelloni beans (2- 15.5 oz cans, washed and drained)
- 1 bunch of kale, de-stemmed and chopped (about 6 cups)
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoons parsley flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- In a large soup pot over medium heat, add olive oil, onion, celery, carrots, and garlic. Cook until vegetables become tender and onions become translucent. Be sure to mix the vegetables regularly to prevent burning.
- Break sausage into small portions and add to pot. Cook until browned.
- Add broth, beans, kale, red pepper flakes, parsley, salt, and pepper. Add water as needed. Bring soup to a boil. Once it reaches a boil, lower the heat and allow soup to simmer for 30 minutes.
- Enjoy!