Thursday, February 11, 2016

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
  • 1cup 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.



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