Zuppa Toscana

                 

              Zuppa Toscana, There are dime a dozen recipes online. The base ingredients is the same for all.  I dont think you can go wrong with this. 

But again this differs based on my love for spices and avoiding whipped cream all together. I would love to try this in slow cooker by frying onions, garlic, sausages. Transfer in a slow cooker with potatoes,  chicken stock, salt and kale. 

Here is my version on stove stop: 

                              

 1 lb Italian ( mild / hot sausage)

• 5 large russet potatoes sliced in half, and then in 1/4 inch slices
• 1 large onion, chopped
• ¹⁄₄ cup bacon bits or  bacon flavor ( optional)
• 2 to 3 garlic clove, minced
• ¼ tsp cinnamon powder or 1 inch long cinnamon
• ¼ tsp clove powder or 3 to 4 cloves ( I grind them in coffee grinder)
• 1 tsp dry oregano
• 4 cups kale or 2 cups swiss chard, chopped  you don’t have to be accurate. Use how much or less you want.
• 2(8 ounce) cans chicken broth or vegetables broth
• 2 cups of  water
• 1cup whole milk  or heavy whipping cream

DIRECTIONS

1.   In 3 Tbsp oil fry onions and garlic until translucent

2.   Add  Chopped/ sliced uncooked sausage. I like it crumbled, so I crumble them with while they cook. Replace sausage with veggie protein if you want a vegetarian soup.

3.   Add clove and cinnamon powder, 1 tsp dry oregano and  ½ tsp black pepper. I love it spicy so I add 1 tsp red chili powder or paprika and 1 /1/2 tbsp. salt.  Stir in sausages and add potatoes

4.   Adjust spices and salt based on your preference.

5.   Add chopped potatoes within 2 min after adding spices. you don’t want spices to burn. Cut potato in half-length wise and then slice them in half shaped moon

6.   Add potatoes to crumbled sausages / veggie protein.  Add chicken stock or vegetables stock. Cooking potatoes this way, takes about 1/ ½ hour on medium heat. If you own a pressure cooker then the time is reduced by 1 hour.

7.   Pressure cook chopped potatoes for about 10 min or 2 or 3 whistle, if in doubt remove early. You don’t want overcooked potatoes

8.   Add bacon or just the flavor

9.   Add chopped washed kale

10.       Add fresh basil about ¼ cup

11.       Simmer for another 15 minutes.

12.       At this point I use hand blender to crumble kale and potatoes just a bit, don’t make it mushy.

13.       Turn to low heat.

14.       Add cream/ whole milk .

15.       Heat through and serve.