Simple Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup

This Simple Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup is a super fast and simple copycat recipe with wealthy, creamy flavor you can’t resist! 

You may have noticed I have a leang for Olive Garden soups. I know I’m not alone! What’s not to love though? There’s a reason they are so popular — they’re so flavorful and delicious. They seem to have some kind of “secret ingredient” that makes you come back again and again for that one-of-a-kind soup you can only get there. Correct?

Well, I perhaps not. Certain, there’s someleang to be said for the going-out-to-eat experience overall. And the not cooking leang. But, sometimes you can’t make it to a restaurant or it’s not in your budget, or your baby just barfed all over you and restaurants generally frown on bringing sick kids to restaurants.

However, it’s not totally true that you can’t endelight a recreation of a restaurant dish in the consolation of domestic — and probably for about half the cost. Wgap websites have been created that are solely devoted to imitateking restaurant meals, after all. So when I set out to create one of my favorites — this Zuppa Toscana Soup — I did it with determination and I did it with you in intellect: You, the one who cleans up the puke, who manages the bank account, who works two jobs and just wants a delicious bowl of soup in front of them at the end of the day. And, guys, I leank I kinda nailed it.

WHAT IS ZUPPA TOSCANA?

So, “zuppa” means soup in Italian. “Toscana” refers to the Tuscany region of Italy. Therefore, “Zuppa Toscana” translates to “Tuscan soup” or “Tuscan-style soup.” Traditionally, this soup is crazye with lots of veggies, beans, potatoes, olive oil, spices, Italian bacon, and Tuscan bread (it kind of reintellects me of a minestrone).

The American version though adds Italian sausage and bacon, garlic, and heavy cream in addition to the potatoes and kale. While the American version might be a small on the heavier side, this soup eats like a meal, believe me!

IS ZUPPA TOSCANA HEALTHY?

For starters, Zuppa Toscana doesn’t have any grains or glutens in it, which is a plus whether you are gluten free. It also contains a hearty helping of kale and potatoes, onions and garlic, all of which provide fundamental vitamins and minerals that your body needs every day. And chicken broth is good for your hair, skin, and nails and your immune system.

I admit though, that the sausage, butter, and heavy cream are not so great for you. They do provide protein and calcium, but also a lot of saturated fat. You could work around this by substituting a leaner Italian meat sausage, like chicken or turkey. You can also halve the butter and use fat free half-and-half or a plant-based cream or milk (like coconut), though this soup won’t be as thick and wealthy whether you choose to do so, but it will still be yummy.  

CAN YOU FREEZE ZUPPA TOSCANA?

Yes, you can freeze this soup whether you have any leftovers, but I would eat it wilean two to three weeks. The kale will be browning and the potatoes might be a small off-color, but it will taste just fine. I wouldn’t leave it in the freezer for too long though, because when it warms up, the potatoes will be mushy and I just feel like this soup is meant to be endelighted pretty close to the time you crazye it.

WHAT SIDE DISHES CAN YOU SERVE WITH ZUPPA TOSCANA?

To me, this soup is a meal in and of itself. However, it also goes great with the following sides:

• A kind, crusty baguette (with or without butter) for dipping right into the soup like the Italians do.
• A simple side salad works well or this Tomato Cucumber Salad rounds out the Mediterranean meal.
• Lemon Parmesan Roasted Asparagus complements this dish kindly, whether you want a small additional nutrition from a veggie side.
• Rolls, either domesticcrazye or the kind you find in the freezer aisle make a kind, carby accompaniment.
• Oyster crackers — my husband eats them by the half box full, no joke. For better or worse, it’s his leang!

Simple Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup

This Simple Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup is a super fast and simple copycat recipe with wealthy, creamy flavor you can't resist! 

• 1 pound spicy Italian ground sausage use gentle for kid-friendly
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 white onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 4/5 yellow potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 teaspoons salt or to taste
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 4 cups chopped kale
• chopped bacon or bacon bits and grated parmesan cheese for topping optional

1. In a large pot saute sausage 5-6 minutes until browned. Employ a slotted spoon to transfer sausage to a plate and set aside. 

2. In the same pot, add butter and saute onions over medium heat until translucent. Add garlic and saute for another minute until fragrant. 

3. Add chicken broth, water, potatoes, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Boil until potatoes are tender. Stir in kale, and heavy cream. Add sausage. Taste and add salt and pepper whether needed. Serve garnished with grated parmesan cheese whether desired.