An Italian-American take on the Olive Garden classic. Zuppa Toscana is a classic American dish with an Italian background, filled with sausage, tuscan kale, and beans!
Remove the sausage from its casing. Bring a large Dutch oven to medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoon of olive oil to the pot. Place the sausage in and sear undisturbed for 3 minutes. Then use a wooden spoon to break apart the sausage and stir occasionally until browned, about 5 minutes. Remove the sausage and set it aside.
Lower the heat to medium-low and add 1 more tablespoon of olive oil. Add the onions and sauté for 5 minutes. Then add the carrots. Stir until the onions are translucent and the carrots are softened. Season with 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, dried parsley, dried basil, dried rosemary, dried thyme, and dried oregano. Add garlic and sauté for 1 more minute.
Add the stock and raise the heat to high. Bring the soup to a boil. Stir well, then add the potatoes and lower the heat to medium. Simmer for 15 minutes.
Add in the sausage and the beans and simmer for 10 more minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
Add the kale on top and cover. The kale will wilt in about 3 minutes, then stir the kale into the soup.
Turn off the heat and stir in the heavy cream. Serve hot!
Video
Notes
Sear the sausage to let the sausage develop a crust, but also to build a fond on the bottom of the pot. The fond will flavor the soup with a savory flavor throughout the soup.
Add the carrots after the onions are softened so that they hold their texture in the soup.
Test your potatoes with a fork to make sure they are ready before you add the kale.
Add the heavy cream off the heat so that it doesn't curdle.