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| recipe and image from here Erik & Carissa like to make this soup in a crock pot. I think they omit the bacon. There are also pictures from a recent family hike! |
Copycat Zuppa Toscana Soup
Classic Olive Garden zuppa toscana soup, in slow cooker form!
It tastes WAY better than the restaurant version (says the blogger linked just under the image.)
1 lb ground spicy Italian sausage (mild can be substituted)
8 slices bacon, diced
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced
2 cloves garlic minced
2 T. flour (cornstarch can be substituted)
32 oz. chicken stock
4 large russet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch pieces
1 c. heavy cream
1/2 bunch kale (a couple of handfuls) de-stemmed and torn into bite sized pieces
Salt and pepper, to taste
Pinch of red pepper flakes. optional
Heat a large dutch oven or heavy bottomed soup pot over MED-HIGH heat. Add a small drizzle of oil, then brown sausage, crumbling as it cooks. Drain well, then remove to a plate.
Fry bacon is residual sausage grease until crisp, then remove to plate with the sausage. Drain all but 1 - 1 1/2 Tbsp of bacon grease.
Add onion to pot and cook 5 minutes, adding garlic the last minute.
Sprinkle flour over onion and garlic in pot, then stir to combine. Pour in chicken stock, stirring as you pour. Add in potatoes and bring to a boil.
Gently boil about 15 minutes, or until potatoes are fork-tender. Add in cooked sausage, bacon, heavy cream and kale. Stir and cook 5-10 minutes until kale is wilted.
Taste and season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes if desired. Top with bacon and enjoy!
6 SERVINGS
prep time
10 MINS
cook time
30 MINS
total time
40 MINS
CROCKPOT DIRECTIONS
Heat large skillet over medium high heat and brown sausage. Drain.
Fry bacon and set aside to a plate.
Add onion and minced garlic and cook slightly.
Add sausage, onion and garlic to the bottom of slow cooker.
Add peeled potatoes, cover with chicken stock and water (if necessary) to completely cover potatoes and sausage.
Cover and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or HIGH for 3-4 (potatoes should be soft)
Before serving, whisk together heavy cream and cornstarch or flour until well mixed. Pour into slow cooker, add kale and stir to combine.
Cover and cook on HIGH for 30 minutes until soup has thickened slightly.
Taste, season according to your tastes, and serve.
INSTANT POT DIRECTIONS
Set a 6-qt instant pot to the saute setting. Add a drizzle of olive oil and Italian sausage. Cook, stirring frequently, until sausage is lightly browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the sausage as it cooks; drain excess grease.
Add bacon and cook until crispy, remove with slotted spoon to a plate.
Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions have become soft, about 2-3 minutes.
Stir in chicken broth and potatoes.
Select manual setting; adjust pressure to high, and set time for 5 minutes. When finished cooking, do a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then a controlled quick release.
When the pin drops, open the lid.
Whisk together flour/cornstarch and heavy cream, then add to pot, along with kale. Stir often and let heat through.
Taste and season as desired.
