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Copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana
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- #1869
This copycat recipe for Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana (Tuscany soup) is made with spicy sausage, potatoes, onion, bacon, kale, and heavy whipping cream.
serves/makes:
ready in:
30-60 minutes
30-60 minutes
31 reviews
4 comments
ingredients
12 small spicy sausage links
3/4 cup onions, diced
6 slices bacon
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chicken base
1 quart water
2 medium potatoes, cubed
2 cups kale leaves, stems removed, leaves shredded
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
directions
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
Place the sausages in a baking dish and bake at 300 degrees F for 25 minutes. Alternately, you can pan-fry them if desired. When cooked through, slice them in half lengthwise then slice in half moons.
Heat a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and bacon is cooked. Remove the bacon, let sit on paper towels to drain the fat, then crumble and set aside.
Add the garlic to the onion in the saucepan and cook for 1 more minute or until fragrant.
Add the chicken base, water, and potatoes. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Let simmer for 15 minutes.
Add the reserved bacon, cooked sausage, kale, and heavy cream. Heat on a low simmer (do not let it boil) for 4-5 minutes or until the kale is wilted and the soup is heated through. Serve hot.
nutrition data
559 calories, 47 grams fat, 19 grams carbohydrates, 16 grams protein per serving. This recipe is low in carbs.
Please note:
This is a copy cat recipe submitted to CDKitchen by a third-party. This recipe is not an original recipe unless specifically stated and is considered only to be an acceptable "clone" to the original for the home cook to attempt to duplicate. Please also note that many nationwide restaurant chains vary their menus and ingredients by region so the version provided may not be similar to what you may have tried before. All trademarks referenced are property of their respective owners.
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reviews & comments
March 18, 2018
I made this recipe and LOVED it! A young friend ate 4 bowls of it. I used andouille sausage, just the right amount of spice! It was delicious!
January 7, 2016
I made this soup as written, except used mild Italian sausage crumbled. It is quite addictive and very delicious. I want to make it again but my husband said the sausage tasted funny...lol..I said it was just the kind you use in spaghetti. I guess he doesn't like fennel seeds.
July 13, 2014
Delicious. Two suggested changes: use sausage out of casing and eliminate heavy cream.
January 4, 2014
This is so good! my family loved it. I substituted spinach for kale and added right before serving. Beautiful
June 24, 2013
This was always my favorite soup at The Olive Garden. So excited that I can make something as equally good at home. MAke sure to use good sausage, not something low-fat.
November 10, 2012
I love this soup. Had it at OG then decided to try to find recipe. This one is spot on I use hot italian sausage take the casing off crumble and fry. Give it the right amount of heat. Making some tonight as a matter of fact
November 6, 2012
Very nice recipe. One of my husband's favorites at OG and he said there is no need to waste money for what we can do at home. He did feel like there was too much bacon. Next time, I will use 3 strips of bacon. I did add more water, roughly two cups, to make it more soupy. We paired the soup with a CDKitchen Red Lobster Biscuit recipe. Such a delightful dinner for this family of 5.
September 11, 2012
Should have chosen spicier sausage, but I really like it mild. This is a fabulous recipe and I got to use my home grown kale in it!!
November 13, 2010
outstanding recipe. my wife, not a big sausage fan, loved it. i added a cup of broth and a cup of water to make it more "soupy" definitly a keeper
March 30, 2009
I'm not sure why this recipe calls for sliced sausage. What should be used is Hot Italian bulk sausage, like Jimmy Dean, cooked and crumbled in a frying pan. If you don't use spicy sausage, make sure to add hot pepper flakes. Also, I would definitely use kale for the greens. In Olive Garden's Toscana the kale is torn into pieces about 2x2 inches (it'll wilt a little) not cut into strips.
February 24, 2009
This is really good has a unique flavour, kale is a strong tasting veg. but this pulls together very well - Bonnie Niagara Falls
January 26, 2009
Very good soup. I am not a soup eater but I love this one, Does anyone know if you can freeze this soup? I want to make a bigger batch the next time but only if I can freeze it
I make this soup all of the time. My husband loves it. To make it a little healthier, I use hot italian turkey sausage, taken out of the casings and diced. I also use low fat half and half instead of heavy cream. Delicious!
January 16, 2009
Very good starting spot for anyone trying to make this soup. There are a few things wrong though. You should not use link sausage. I also think Cilantro makes a better leaf for this soup than Kale. All around very good though!
January 16, 2009
Very good starting spot for anyone trying to make this soup. There are a few things wrong though. You should not use link sausage. I also think Cilantro makes a better leaf for this soup than Kale. All around very good though!
October 20, 2008
I made this on sweetest day for my hubby and he ate it all. I had one bowl and he even ate the leftovers I put in the fridge in the middle of the night. He wants me to make some more later on in the wk. We'll see:)
This is a great recipe. I find putting the sausage links in the oven to cook really improves the flavor of the links. Easy and very tasty. Try it you'll love it as we do.
June 28, 2008
The Olive Garden toscana soup DOES have crushed red peper flakes, therefore, this recipe should include the flakes. Furthermore, seasoning is completely opted out in this recipe, I seasoned it after I added in all the ingredients at the end and seasoned with black pepper and salt(TT) . For the sausage(italian sausage) it should be browned on a skillet and not baked as the recipe suggests, which just doesn't make sense. This is my favorite soup and I get it quite often at olive garden so I'm very firmiliar with it. Its a delicious and quite simple. Also I believe kale works the best for the greens.
June 22, 2008
I made this last night, it was easy and fun and it tasted great. I used a pound of jimmy dean hot sausage, cooked it in a skillet and crumbled it up to put in the soup, it gave it the right amount of heat. I will definatley make this for my family again, they loved it.
October 28, 2007
It's close to OG's,and yummy, but I am certain there is no bacon in the soup. Also, I like the spicy hot Italian crumbly sausage rather than the links. Also, to keep it low fat, I substitute evaporated skim milk or fat free half 'n' half for whipping cream. Drain off most or all of the sausage fat. Use more canned low/no fat chicken broth and skip the water and you are now in the healthy soup category.I'm addicted to the stuff.
September 24, 2007
I used Hot Italian sausage...no need to add red pepper flakes. This recipe is DEAD ON PERFECT and my family couldn't be happier!
One thing thats missing is chili peper flakes Toscan has a bit of a kick and its the flakes that do it. Also add pepper and the sausage should be Itlaina sausage.
July 15, 2007
Wow its just like Olive Gardens, I now can make it at home and enjoy as much as I want...
May 2, 2007
AWESOME!! We have it all the time!!
April 15, 2007
The best soup EVER! I use 2 cans of chicken broth and one quart of water for the liquid. Also, I use a half pound of hot italian ground sausage. It worked better than the little links. We make this soup all the time! SO GOOD!
January 31, 2007
WOW!! My family is in love with this soup! I think it is now our new favorite...in fact have a pot of it cooking right now.
January 12, 2007
This is a fantastic recipe! Just like the original. I prefer to place sausage and bacon on paper towels to get rid of as much oil as possible before adding it to soup. My husband likes it thick so I use a little less water and a little more cream. But recipe is awesome as is!!!!
November 12, 2006
This was very yummy. Alot like the original. I think we used too much sausage this time b/c we used six larger links that were about the size of a brat. They didn't have the smaller version in the store. Still great though...I plan on making it over and over. Also added a bit more broth and cream at the end b/c it didn't seem "soupy" enough.
I am addicted to this soup so I had to add some comments. I love to grill up hot italian sausage for sandwiches--with onions and peppers. I do the 5 pack of sausages for my husband and me. I use the leftovers just for this soup. I have found 1 1/2 sausages are the perfect amount and I chop up the grilled onions to go in too. The smokiness from the grill adds the punch that puts this soup over the top. Also for a shortcut, I use a box of chicken broth and enough cream to get the broth just right. If you have no fresh greens on hand, you can even throw in a fistful of drained frozen spinach as a substitute. Oh maaan, this makes me HUNGRY!!!!
September 7, 2006
I was OBSESSED with this soup when I had it at Olive Garden. I followed this recipe and I must say, it tasted JUST like the original. Super easy, super yummy! You can adjust the heat to your liking (or just use hot sausage) Enjoy!
March 20, 2006
it is so great you cannot tell the diference between olive gardens or this recipe i made it for several friends and relatives and it was gone in less than a hour and now calling me to either make some more or the recipe for it.IT IS exceptional
January 4, 2006
This is the closest recipe I've found for this soup. It is very rich and delicious. There was none left.
December 18, 2005
I made this recipe and I couldn't tell the difference between mine and olive garden's it was excellent great stuff
November 7, 2005
I tried this recipe on 11/6, it was so good that my brother-in-law had 5 bowls!!! Now he thinks I am actually a good cook :) Thank you
September 21, 2004
I tried this recipe on 9/19. I thought it was delicious!!! I'm going to try the Pasta E Fagioli, but not the 9 qts.