Zuppa Toscana Recipe
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This hearty, comforting Zuppa Toscana is loaded with Italian sausage, tender potatoes, and fresh spinach, all simmered in a rich, creamy broth. Perfect for cozy nights in!
This is my take on the famous Zuppa Toscana from Olive Garden—a hearty and comforting Italian-inspired soup loaded with savory Italian sausage, tender potatoes, and fresh spinach, all simmered in a creamy, flavorful broth. While you’ll find plenty of versions of this soup online, what makes this one stand out is the slightly thicker broth, thanks to a touch of flour. It gives the soup a more substantial, satisfying texture, turning it into a true main course. Pair it with an arugula salad and some good crusty bread, and you’ve got a complete meal that’s perfect for a cozy night in.
What You’ll Need To Make Zuppa Toscana
- Italian Sausage: Adds protein and rich, savory, and spicy flavor to the soup.
- Yellow Onion and Garlic: These aromatics create a flavorful base for the soup.
- Carrots: Bring a hint of natural sweetness and a bit of color to the soup.
- All-Purpose Flour: Thickens the broth slightly, giving it a satisfying body without being too heavy.
- Chicken Broth: The liquid base of the soup, adding richness and savory flavor.
- Yukon Gold Potatoes: Creamy and tender, these potatoes absorb the broth’s flavors, giving the soup heartiness.
- Salt, Pepper, and Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Add balance, seasoning, and heat to the dish.
- Baby Spinach: Adds freshness and a pop of color to the soup.
- Heavy Cream: Adds creaminess to the broth, making the soup comforting and rich.
- Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano Cheese: Adds a salty, nutty flavor that brings everything together.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step Instructions
In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the sausage over medium heat, breaking it up into small pieces as it browns, 5 to 7 minutes. Once browned, use a slotted spoon to transfer the sausage to a colander in the sink to drain, leaving about 1 tablespoon of the drippings in the pot for sautéing the vegetables.
Add the diced onion and carrots to the reserved drippings (if the pot seems dry, add a bit of oil). Sauté over medium heat until softened, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Do not brown.
Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables.
Stir until fully incorporated, about 1 minute.
Gradually pour in the chicken broth, and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pot.
Add the potatoes, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer. Stir occasionally to prevent the potatoes from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Cook until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
While the soup simmers, transfer the sausage to a paper towel-lined plate. With more paper towels, blot the sausage to absorb any excess grease.
Add the baby spinach and cooked sausage to the soup. Simmer until the spinach is wilted, a few minutes.
Add cream and cheese.
Stir to combine and continue to simmer until everything is warmed through. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if needed. Serve hot, passing more cheese at the table.
Make-Ahead Instructions
You can prepare the soup up to 2 days in advance. After cooking, let it cool to room temperature, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, reheat the soup gently over low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. You may need to add a splash of broth or water if the soup has thickened too much.
Video Tutorial
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Zuppa Toscana
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy, depending on your preference), removed from casings
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 pound Yukon gold potatoes, diced into ½-inch pieces
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for more heat)
- 2 cups baby spinach, stems removed, packed
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese, plus more for serving
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the sausage over medium heat, breaking it up into small pieces as it browns, 5 to 7 minutes. Once browned, use a slotted spoon to transfer the sausage to a colander in the sink to drain, leaving about 1 tablespoon of the drippings in the pot for sautéing the vegetables.
- Add the diced onion and carrots to the reserved drippings (if the pot seems dry, add a bit of oil). Sauté over medium heat until softened, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Do not brown. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir until fully incorporated, about 1 minute.
- Gradually pour in the chicken broth, and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the potatoes, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer. Stir occasionally to prevent the potatoes from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Cook until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
- While the soup simmers, transfer the sausage to a paper towel-lined plate. With more paper towels, blot the sausage to absorb any excess grease.
- Add the baby spinach and cooked sausage to the soup. Simmer until the spinach is wilted, a few minutes. Stir in the cream and cheese and continue to simmer until everything is warmed through. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if needed. Serve hot, passing more cheese at the table.
Notes
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Comments
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Delicious soup! I did use 6 cups of water instead of 4 (it was supposed to be chicken stock) as 4 seemed to be too little liquid. It was still flavourful
I had some sausage meat and was going to make Jenn’s Baked Ziti when I saw this. It was fabulous. A great soup for dinner. Will definitely be adding this to the soup roster. Many thanks Jenn!
Quick, easy and delicious! And with everyday ingredients. Thanks for another winner Jenn!
I made this soup and absolutely enjoyed it! It was fairly easy to prep and quick to cook! The end result was very tasty, both with the broth with a touch of cream (as well as the residual oil from cooking the sausage at the start) and the potatoes. It was a hearty and filling soup.
Note: I used frozen spinach in place of fresh (as i had a LOT in my freezer and wanted to use it up). Although chopped spinach may not look as nice compared to whole leaf, it worked out fine in my opinion. I would definitely make this again!
Simply delicious!