Zuppa Toscana Soup (Olive Garden Clone)

"I have tried quite a few different recipes that state they are a Zuppa Toscana Copy Cat but none of them had much flavor and while they were close I set out to make a soup that is Zuppa Toscana."
 
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photo by Gregs Food Blog photo by Gregs Food Blog
photo by Gregs Food Blog
Ready In:
1hr
Ingredients:
14
Serves:
8
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ingredients

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directions

  • Bring chicken stock and water to a light boil and add potatoes.
  • In a skillet (preferably cast iron or enameled cast iron) cook bacon until somewhat done and remove (but do not add bacon to the soup, save for a BLT or something).
  • Sauté the onion in the bacon rendering until almost caramelized (golden color).
  • Remove and put in boiling stock.
  • In the same skillet add olive oil and cook Italian sausage (with casings removed).
  • Add garlic with the sausage and cook until sausage is done and the consistency of ground hamburger meat.
  • Add mixture to the stock.
  • By this time check to see if potatoes are cooked by trying to squish them on the side of the stock pot.
  • When they are done reduce heat and add cream and Swiss chard, salt, anise, red pepper, black pepper.
  • Serve with garlic bread or corn bread (or even better an herbed Parmesan corn bread).

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Reviews

  1. I agree! This is a great replica and a family favorite. This recipe has gotten my family to enjoy kale. I now buy it and put it in other recipes. The ingredients freeze well and can be placed in a pot or slow cooker to cook for dinner.
     
  2. Finally someone fixed the other recipes! There is def fennel and def red pepper flakes in the original soup! I added the juice of an entire lemon bc I thought it needed some acidity. I also did it all in 1 pot and used bacon grease instead of making the bacon. This makes a lot so I chop up the kale and add it to each bowl as we eat it so it doesn't get soggy. I like it green and crisp tender. I also only added 2 c. of water and was going to add more later but it didnt need it. It still made about a gallon.
     
  3. This is an exact replica of the famous Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana!!! I was delightfully surprised when I made this, and it did in fact taste just like the real thing!!!
     
  4. I must agree with Chef Wahoo - his recipe is flavorfull and merits its title. I used bulk "Sprouts Farmers Market" all-natural, semi-spicy Italian sausage (fresh, made daily right at the store). I omitted the red pepper flakes since the sausage already had some. I reserved the cream to add it only when serving the soup at the table. Fill your guest's bowl with soup and pour 1 to 2 TBSP cream at the center as you hand your guest his/her bowl. Also offer to grate some fresh parmesan cheese over the soup. Guests love the visual addition of ingredients to their plates when being served.
     
  5. Delicious! I looked a lot of recipes over before settling on this one because of Chef Wahoo's interesting flavoring ingredients and technique. I did use the anise seed but next time I will also add the same amount of fennel seed (or maybe even twice as much). We love fennel and since it is the dominant spice in Italian sausage, I expect it will be a natural fit.
     
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Tweaks

  1. Finally someone fixed the other recipes! There is def fennel and def red pepper flakes in the original soup! I added the juice of an entire lemon bc I thought it needed some acidity. I also did it all in 1 pot and used bacon grease instead of making the bacon. This makes a lot so I chop up the kale and add it to each bowl as we eat it so it doesn't get soggy. I like it green and crisp tender. I also only added 2 c. of water and was going to add more later but it didnt need it. It still made about a gallon.
     

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

I have cooked both in the Navy and for fun, I have been cooking since I was 7 years old and still enjoy it today. My favorite Cook book series is America's Test Kitchen. I love to read the CIA's "Kitchen and Cook" and alot of my recipe's come from those with modifications. MY PET PEEVES ARE RATING RECIPE's WHEN YOU HAVE SUBSTITUTED INGREDIENTS OR MODIFIED IT!!!!! That's not fair and objective to those reading or those sponsoring the recipe. <img src="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/MrsTeny/Permanent%20Collection/PACSpring09Iwasadopted.jpg">
 
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