Description
This Healthy Zuppa Toscana is a comforting and nutritious soup that features savory Italian sausage, crispy bacon, tender potatoes, and fresh kale in a creamy coconut milk broth. Perfect for a hearty weeknight meal, this recipe balances bold flavors with wholesome ingredients, making it a delicious twist on the classic Tuscan soup.
Ingredients
Sausage and Bacon
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage
- 6 slices organic bacon, diced (or turkey bacon)
Vegetables and Seasonings
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 7 medium yellow potatoes, diced
- 3 cups finely chopped fresh kale
Liquids and Final Seasonings
- 7 cups chicken bone broth
- 1 (13.5 oz) can full-fat coconut milk
- Olive oil, for cooking
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Brown the Sausage: Heat a large dutch oven or stock pot over medium heat and add a small drizzle of olive oil. Add the ground Italian sausage and crumble it with a spoon as it cooks. Once browned, drain excess fat and set the sausage aside.
- Cook the Bacon: In the same pot, add the diced bacon and cook over medium heat until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Stir occasionally to cook evenly. Remove the bacon pieces and set aside, leaving about two tablespoons of bacon grease in the pot.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Add the diced onion, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper to the pot with the bacon grease. Cook until the onions are soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute to release its fragrance.
- Boil the Potatoes: Pour the chicken bone broth into the pot and stir. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the soup to a boil. Add the diced potatoes and cook until they are fork-tender, approximately 15 minutes.
- Simmer with Greens and Sausage: Reduce the heat to a simmer. Return the cooked sausage and most of the reserved bacon to the pot. Stir in the chopped kale and the full-fat coconut milk. Simmer until the kale is tender, about 5 minutes.
- Season and Serve: Taste the soup and add salt and pepper as needed. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with the remaining crispy bacon pieces. Serve warm and enjoy this hearty, healthy soup.
Notes
- You can substitute turkey bacon for organic bacon to reduce fat content.
- Using chicken bone broth adds extra nutrients and depth of flavor compared to regular chicken broth.
- Full-fat coconut milk gives the soup a creamy texture without dairy; light coconut milk can be used but will result in a thinner broth.
- Leftover soup stores well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and freezes nicely for up to 3 months.
- For a spicier version, increase the crushed red pepper or add freshly ground black pepper at serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 37 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
