Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Faux Zuppa Tuscana

Olive Garden anyone?? If any of you have ever had they're Zuppa Tuscana (a creamy, and a little bit spicy, sausage and potato soup) that you will know just how delicious this recipe will be. If you haven't, well... you're just going to have to trust me. This soup has become one of my family's favorites (family as in me and kirby, as well as my parents and siblings.) When I first made it for Kirby, he thought he would have to eat something afterwards in addition to the soup because, "It's just soup..." But good grief, it's filling! If you want a little variety, get a loaf of garlic french bread and toast it in the oven and have that with it. But even on its own it's incredibly filling! Give it a try! :)

1 Tbsp. Olive oil
1 lb. ground Italian sausage, mild
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper, plus more to taste
2 1/2 cup water
2 (14 1/2 oz.) cans chicken broth
3 large russet potatoes, peeled, halved lengthwise, sliced 1/4" thick
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly group pepper
1/2 bunch kale, stems removed, chopped
1 cup heavy (whipping) cream

Saute sausage in oil. Remove sausage to plate and set aside. Add onion, saute until translucent. Add garlic and crushed red pepper, cook 1 minute. In a large pot, combine water and broth; add onion mixture. Add potatoes, salt and pepper. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat, simmer about 10 minutes. Add kale and sausage, simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in cream. Heat to simmer over medium heat, cook 2 minutes.

For any of y'all who don't know what kale is (because I didn't), it's all that green leafy stuff they stick in the soup at the Olive Garden. I have never actually included it, and it is still phenomenal!

Please note: when you are buying the italian sausage, make sure you get the MILD ground italian sausage. (there is a difference!) The first time I wasn't paying attention, and our soup was SPIIII-CY! You can get the hot ground sausage if you want, and leave out the crushed red pepper, but it will still be a little bit spicier than with the original recipe. (but not deadly. Just make sure not to do the hot sausage AND the red pepper. PHEW!) Anyhoo! ENJOY!

6 comments:

Ashley said...

wow that sounds way good, i'm going to have to try it. I always love new recipes!

rachel b. said...

Ooooh, I'm so going to try this. I love that soup, but Jeff's the same way--if I make soup for dinner, he's like, "Uhhh, is this it? Where's the meat?" I'll have to assure him that it is Man Approved.

Lauren Davison said...

Rachel--You should put some sort of symbol at the bottom of the recipe. Then when he asks that you can show it to him. :)

Lauren Davison said...

Ok, so Kirby says "It's a good lunch..." But he really was surprised at how filling it was. So who knows. I think he's just afraid of Jeff thinking he's not a real man if Jeff doesn't get full...

Meli said...

mmm yummy we like soups. I will try this recipe!

rachel b. said...

I made this soup tonight, and it was SO good! Even Jeff liked it. He was raving about it until I was like, "You love it. And it's soup." And then he's all, "Well, you know, I meant it's good . . . for soup." Trying to redeem his soup-hating manhood.

 

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