Healthy Zuppa Toscana

This Healthy Zuppa Toscana has been a favorite of ours for over 30 years! I love the depth of flavor this soup brings to the table. Sausage, creamy red potatoes, kale with spices and a creamy broth! There’s a secret ingredient in mine. Trust me on this one! I know your family will love this cozy bowl full as much as mine! You may also love my Dairy Free Ham and Potato Soup!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Nutritious and hearty meal: This soup will provide a veggie, protein and nutrient dense bowl full. It assures your family is getting a healthy meal all in one bowl!

Ready in an hour: If you are like me no one wants to spend a lot of time on a weeknight after a hard day’s work standing in the kitchen preparing dinner. This soup is ready in less than an hour. It will be on the table, ready to enjoy with the family.

Ingredients You Will Need

Bacon: Bacon is a salt-cured pork product made from various cuts of the pig, usually the belly or less fatty parts of the back. I always opt for a sugar-free bacon that has not been cured with nitrates and nitrites. This keeps the recipe Paleo and Whole30 friendly.

Italian sausage: In North America, Italian sausage most often refers to pork sausage that has been seasoned with fennel or anise as the main seasoning. It is available as mild, sweet or hot. The difference lies in the amount of hot red pepper flakes. Sweet and mild generally have sweet basil added.

Baby potatoes: Baby Whole Potatoes are a starchy root vegetable. They are small, bite-sized potatoes that have a more concentrated flavor. This makes them ideal for salads, baked, roasted or pan fried.

Kale: Kale is a leafy green vegetable that is a member of the cabbage family. Kale is versatile having a nutty, earthy flavor that works well in many recipes.

Onion: I prefer yellow onion for this recipe as it has a bolder flavor than sweet onions. However, you can certainly use sweet if you prefer.

Celery: Celery is a nutrient-rich, low-calorie food that has fiber and vitamin K, small amounts of A and C, calcium and iron. It is an essential ingredient for making Mirepoix, which is an aromatic base of celery, carrots and onions.

Carrots: As a root vegetable, they are a perfect candidate for roasting. They infuse a soup with a natural sweetness and robust flavor.

Garlic: Fresh is best for obtaining a little stronger touch of garlic flavor. This is more potent than the sweeter touch you would obtain from powder.

Coconut cream: Coconut cream is ideal for dairy-free dishes. It provides a creamy texture with a taste that is very mild and usually hidden by other flavors. Opting for coconut cream over coconut milk creates a thicker, creamier texture.

Chicken bone broth: You have the option of using either chicken bone broth or regular chicken broth. The bone broth offers enhanced health benefits along with a richer flavor profile.

Basil: Dried basil offers convenience and potency. It is a savory herb that is usually sweet and no soup or tomato sauce should be without it.

Chili powder: Chili powder, a vibrant and flavorful spice, creates a rich and robust base to the spice blend.

Salt and pepper: Salt enhances and balances flavors, while ground black pepper adds a gentle heat. Both improve the overall flavor of a dish.

Instructions

Cook the bacon: Crisp bacon pieces in large pot. Once crisp, use a slotted spoon to move the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels.

Drain the fat: Remove all but 2 tbsp of bacon fat from pot

Cook the sausage: Add sausage to bacon fat & break apart cooking till just browning

Cook the onions and celery: Add onions & celery, cooking till onions are translucent

Add garlic: Add garlic, stirring one minute

Add the seasoning: Add basil, chili powder and pepper. Note that I only add salt if needed as your bacon may be salty enough.

Cook the potatoes: Add potatoes, carrots & broth, cover and bring to a boil

Simmer the soup: Lower & simmer till potatoes and carrots are soft

Add the coconut cream: Slowly add the coconut cream stirring to combine

Wilt the kale: Add the kale stirring till wilted

Ladle the soup into bowls: Ladle the soup into your bowls and garnish with bacon

Enjoy!

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Prepare the veggies ahead: If you like to meal prep on the weekend like I do, cut up your veggies and store them in glass-covered containers in the refrigerator. This will lessen your prep time during the week when you want to make this soup.

Before adding coconut cream: Be sure the soup is simmering lightly before adding the coconut cream. High heat can tend to make the soup appear curdled if the coconut cream is put into boiling broth.

Recipe Variations

Ground chicken: If you are not a fan of sausage you can easily swap ground chicken, turkey, or even beef for the Italian sausage. If you do this, I recommend adding some sausage seasoning to the soup.

Spinach: You can use spinach in place of the kale if that is what you have on hand.

Chicken broth: You can opt to use chicken broth in place of chicken bone broth.

Storage Tips

To store the Healthy Zuppa Toscans, place it in an airtight container and refrigerate. The soup can also be frozen for up to 6 months.

FAQs About Healthy Zuppa Toscana

What is Zuppa Toscana made of?

Traditionally, Zuppa Toscana is made with lots of veggies, beans, potatoes, olive oil, spices and Italian bacon. To keep my recipe Paleo and Whole30 friendly, I omit the beans and added sausage for a protein.

How long does Zuppa Toscana last in the fridge?

This recipe will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator. I recommend storing in a glass tight container like a ball jar.

What culture is Zuppa Toscana from?

Zuppa Toscana means Tuscan soup and is from Tuscany, northern Italy.