In the beautiful realm that is Tasty Kitchen (I know, it’s like I’m addicted) this recipe has gotten rave reviews time after time, and after staring at its mug on the internet for any number of months, I finally did my duty to mankind as well as to my own palate and made it.
And am I ever thankful that I did.
I figured if it was anything like Olive Garden’s Tuscan soup, it would be pretty dang good. Well, it surpassed even my loaded expectations.
Let me break it down to you real simple-like. In five words: Love, adoration, creaminess, love, creaminess.
Five adjectives? Spicy. Hearty. Satisfying. Flavorful. Delicious.
Five verbs? To eat. To sigh. To crave. To devour. To repeat.
After making it for the first time and failing to photograph it, I immediately made plans for making it again. So here is take 2, which I will hereby refer to as “Take Awesome.”
Ingredients
(Serves 4)
1 lb spicy breakfast sausage (I used Jimmy Dean’s hot sausage)
1 red onion
3 slices bacon
5 cloves garlic
3 medium sized red potatoes
1 quart chicken stock
3 c roughly chopped kale leaves
1/2 c heavy whipping cream
Salt and pepper, to taste (go heavy on the black pepper)
Good evening, ingredients! (It’s always important to say a kind ‘hello’ to the ingredients–it makes them ever so much more cooperative.)
Step one: grab that sausage.
Tear it into rustic chunks with your fingers. I tried to make them all about the size of a meatball.
Then lick your fingers.
Just kidding! Please don’t obey me blindly. Except when I tell you to send me things–like a sample of that batch of cookies you just made. In that case, don’t question me. Or else.
Toss the sausage into a hot Dutch oven, and cook it over medium high heat until cooked through (about 10 minutes).
You’ll have to give it the occasional stir to make sure the pieces get browned all over. Remove the sausage to a plate and set it aside. But don’t worry–we’ll meet again.
Chop the onion, mince the garlic, and dice the bacon. Aren’t red onions just beautiful?
Make sure when you snap the picture that the bacon is completely out of focus. Check.
Add the bacon to the Dutch oven, and cook over medium-high for 5 minutes.
Soon it will start browning and your salivary glands will be activated.
Just direct your streams of drool away from the pot. Add the onion and garlic and cook for another 5 minutes.
Wash the potatoes, cut them in half lengthwise, and then slice them into half-moons (1/4” slices).
Now let’s return to the Dutch oven, and pour in that chicken stock.
Toss in the potatoes too, while you’re at it.
Simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes, and test the potatoes for doneness. You want them to be almost done–but not quite.
In the meantime, wash and roughly chop the kale. My grocery store was out of their supply of kale–with the exception of these prewashed, prechopped bags. My hand was forced! In Take 1, I dealt with kale in its natural state. But in Take Awesome, the work was all done for me. I have mixed feelings about that.
So back to business: once the potatoes are almost-done-but-not-quite, add the heavy cream . . .
. . . the reserved sausage . . .
. . . and the kale.
I like lotsa lotsa kale. Plus, it wilts down just like spinach. So what looks like ‘lotsa lotsa’ will actually become a healthy, moderate amount.
It’s also the right time to add copious amounts of black pepper. Taste the soup and season it to your liking.
Simmer it for another 5 minutes, stirring to incorporate everything.
Grab a ladle, and let’s serve it up.
Some buttery chunks of garlic bread wouldn’t be amiss at all. No sirree.
I love how this soup is full of ‘stuff’–it means that each bite is a fun adventure in flavor and texture. Just look at what this spoonful turned up.
If I haven’t made myself clear, I highly, highly recommend this soup.
But the only thing that will fully convince you of the awesomeness and wonder of this soup is actually making it. So what are you waiting for? Grab your grocery list! Add the ingredients! Hop to it!
Thanks for letting me order you about–it may happen quite frequently on this blog. It helps give my bossy older sister tendencies a good airing.
Click here for printer-friendly version: Spicy Tuscan Soup
This looks so yummy, and satisfying, perfect for a cold day
I have such a thing for sausage lately. For me, it’s the new bacon. 🙂
This looks delicious. I cracked up at your “thanks for letting me boss you around” comment. So fun! Have a good week.
Hey there – how big is your pot? Trying to decide how much of this I’d want to make. Would you say it makes 4 KateKat servings or 4 Livingston-boy servings?
Hmmm, maybe it’s a 4 quart or 5 quart pot? I’m really not sure, but I would DEFINITELY double the recipe if Livingston boys are involved. And I would accompany it with a big load of garlic bread.
I would just like to mention that our worlds have collided. I made this for dinner last night. Ridiculously good.
Hah! That’s awesome. What a coincidence. =)
You know what, the stars have aligned for this soup to be made next week. One, there’s sooo much kale at the farmers market (I used my last batch to make kale chips last night.) Two, I’m smoking a new batch of bacon tonight. Lastly, I’m getting some cream from a dairy farmer this weekend and I don’t know what else to do with it (after making some ice-cream of course.)
You won’t regret it!! I personally guarantee it. =) And I’ve been wanting to make kale chips for a while now. I have a big bag of kale in the fridge, so maybe tonight the kale chip stars will also align. And I’m so impressed that you smoke your own bacon and make your own ice cream. Wow.
I am on a meat curing kick. It’s all so rewarding. But trust me, none of them are that hard.
Here’s a real simple (but freaking fantastic) ice-cream:
Ice Cream: http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2007/11/the-easiest-cho/
That soup looks amazing!
looks amazing! perfect for a riany chilly day. i love kale!
Oh do I love me some Tasty Kitchen. I’ve been going nuts compiling my list of “To Make or Bake” recipes and now this one is going on the list! Looks delish Ms. Jenna.
I’ve been watching the ratings climb for this soup in this last couple of months. And as you have now made it, I feel it is my obligation to copy your every move and make it.
As if I had any choice. 😉
Looks divine! That first picture had me drooling!
Haha! Love the way you describe this soup! 🙂
That look soo good! I am definitely going to try this one 😉
I’m definitely making this soup, Jenna. It looks delicious and I already have everything but the kale. I do have parsley I need to cook. But kale would be better. I’ll get some. Blessings to you, Jenna…
Great! I hope you enjoy the soup Carol! Let me know how it turns out. =)
Jenna — I love all your recipes, even though I no longer eat meat or dairy products — they always look and sound delicious. But I have to ask, dreary as it is — how do you manage to eat so many rich and hearty foods and still stay as svelte and slim as you do? Do you exercise when you’re not eating or is it just good genes!
Thanks! And as for staying slim, it’s a lot of genetics, portion control, and Pilates/yoga (I’ve tried jogging and absolutely hated it … =). But mostly the genetics, for which I am SO grateful. I love my butter!
made this last night…SO delish! thanks for sharing 🙂
So glad you liked my soup! I love seeing when people make it! 🙂
Caressa
Saw this recipe this morning, and just made the soup this evening. Soooo good! My husband is going to go nuts over it (he loves potatoes). One thing: Jimmy Dean sausage has MSG in it. I used Johnsonville Sausage, which does not have MSG. Just thought I’d put that out there. Thanks for the amazing recipe!
Oooh, thanks for letting me know Mary! I think I’ll try Johnsonville next time.
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Cooking is easier for me because of your blog! I’m making this now as I type (it’s simmering, with a few min. left to go), but beginner level at cooking… is my GOAL (haha, I’m very intimidated by cooking), but your directions spell it out! (I’m a little more experienced at baking).
Yay! That’s great to hear, Layla. =)
Just made this yesterday at work since I work at a Pork processing plant. Used some Bold N’ Spicy sausage fresh off the line and OMG! EVERYONE in the office loved this and let me tell you- there are some PICKY eaters here! This was a fantastic recipe and easily the favorite thing I’ve made for them in the kitchen to date! I’ll definitely be making this again!! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
That’s fantastic! Thanks so much for stopping back in to let me know, Rava!
Jenna, if you only knew how many people in the French Department at IU are making this soup now…
We all LOVE it, and we MISS your sister (Erica).
I tried this last night for dinner and it was fantastic — even my husband liked it and he’s not normally a fan of any kind of soup. I will definitely be checking out more of your recipes! Thanks so much!
Awesome!! So glad you guys liked the soup, Stephanie!