Description
A comforting, creamy Tuscan soup made with Italian sausage, potatoes, and kale. This forgiving recipe is perfect for stressful days, offering nourishment and warmth with simple ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage (hot works for spice)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, diced into half-inch cubes
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 bunch Lacinato kale (or curly kale), stems removed and chopped
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: 2 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
- Optional: 1 can white beans, drained
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Dice potatoes, chop kale, and mince garlic.
- Brown the sausage in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes until no longer pink. Remove sausage if using a skillet, leaving fat in the pan.
- Reduce heat to medium. Sauté diced onion in the fat for 3-4 minutes until soft. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, stirring for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits. Add potatoes and fennel seeds. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until potatoes are tender.
- Stir in chopped kale and let wilt for 2-3 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream. Heat through for 2 minutes without boiling.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Notes
Do not skip browning the sausage for deep flavor. Use Yukon Gold potatoes as they hold shape but add creaminess. Wash kale thoroughly to remove grit. Add cream at the very end and keep heat low to prevent separation. Soup tastes better the next day but does not freeze well due to the cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 18
Keywords: Zuppa Toscana, Tuscan soup, comfort food, Italian sausage, kale soup, creamy soup, self care recipe, weeknight dinner