Copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup

"I got this recipe off this group i joined and I've been dying to try it out. I haven't been to olive garden in over a year, so this is as close as i can get. Honestly, I could barely tell the difference, and it was my favorite part of eating there. The soup. This is SO good, and excellent with breadsticks! I garnish it with shredded parmesan cheese and fresh ground pepper. Jan 2011- ETA I just wanted to thank everyone for the great reviews...this is still a staple in our house, glad to see so many enjoying it!!! Thanks again!!"
 
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photo by sheri77 photo by sheri77
photo by sheri77
Ready In:
1hr
Ingredients:
9
Yields:
1 pot
Serves:
4-6
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ingredients

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directions

  • Place onions and bacon into large saucepan and cook onions over medium heat until they are almost clear. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  • Add chicken bouillon, water and potatoes, bring to a simmer for 15 minutes.
  • Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 5 more minutes then serve.

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Reviews

  1. Best recipe of this soup ever. I am kind of a novice in the food cooking game but I have ventured in a lot of recipes over the last couple of months. I would have to say if you blindfolded me and put this recipe infront of me and not the actual Olive Garden kind I would have never even noticed the difference. I think next time I will rinse and strain the meat before adding it because I cooked my own sausage instead of using precooked meat. I also carmalized the onions and garlic with the meat and added some to the soup. I also precooked the potatos to a firm but cooked stage before adding the rest of the ingrediants. Very delectible with homemade cheesy breadsticks. I give it 5 stars....Keep the good recipes coming!
     
  2. After eating at Olive Garden, I went to the store and bought kale and Johnsonville Franks Mild Italian Sausage, knowing I had this recipe at home. I took the casing off of 3 sausage links and cooked it with the onions and bacon, draining when done. Instead of bouillon and water, I used 4 (14.5 oz.) cans of chicken broth. I also used half 'n half for the cream. I added all ingredients but the kale and cream in step 2 and simmered for over 30 min. I added the kale and simmered for 10 min. before adding the cream. The taste was ALMOST like Olive Garden's. It was only missing the spicy heat. Although it was definately delicious, I will use Hot Italian Sausage for sure next time. Thanks Sheri77 for letting me enjoy this soup at home! Update: The Johnsonville Hot Italian Sausages DID make it just like Olive Garden's. It's Great!
     
  3. We Loved Loved Loved this recipe... We were craving the OG soup but were short on cash.. I used 3 LARGE Potatoes.. 3 cups Kale and 5 Spicy Sausage links... ( Next time I will chop up the sausage a little more) also added more boullion than what was called for... it was soo hearty and delicious. No more wasting $10 per person anymore! This is going to be a staple in our home!
     
  4. DELICIOUS!!! We love the Olive Garden version of this soup and this is definitely comparable. The hubby also loved it. This is something we will be making on a regular basis! Here's what we did different: we used Italian sausage along with crushed red pepper. (Bob Evans brand in the tube and just made about 3/4 of the tube) We also used the whole carton of heavy cream (so little was left at the end, we didn't want to waste it.) I also simmered it a little longer than 15 mins to make sure the potatoes were done and I added the kale a little early too so it would wilt more. I shared this recipe with my mom and she is going to make it tonight too!
     
  5. All I have to say is.............I'm in heaven. This soup is amazing.
     
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Tweaks

  1. I love this soup. It's a terrific, delicious way to get some greens in your diet. I subbed low-fat turkey sausage (had it on hand) and evaporated milk for the cream to reduce the fat content. Baboo loves it!
     
  2. Excellant! We use Jimmy Dean sausage instead of links & chicken soup base instead of bouillon (I always sub the soup base paste for anything that calls for bouillon -much better flavor). Love the recipe, Thanks for sharing!
     
  3. excellent! sorry it took me so long to write a review for it... the only thing i did different was use skim milk instead of heavy cream to cut back on calories!
     
  4. DH made this for dinner tonight; it was very yummy! He made a few alterations: turkey bacon instead of pork, ground turkey seasoned with Italian herbs and crushed red pepper instead of the sausage, chicken broth instead of bouillion and water, and mustard greens instead of the kale. Also, he cooked the whole package of turkey, which was more than the recipe called for, so it was a lot chunkier than the original. It was delicious, and I'm sure we'll make this again (although maybe not too often, considering how rich it is!). Thanks for posting, sheri77!
     

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

<p>On the move again, just moved back to the coast and have a wonderful new kitchen to work in! SAHM mom for the summer so lots of time on my hands to get cooking :)</p>
 
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