Spicy Tuscan Soup

Sunday, January 23, 2011 Anya 1 Comments

The rainy weeks of late December inspired me to go through my available soup recipes or look for new ones that I'd like to try out. I am constantly ripping out recipes from magazines or print them out from the internet. I have a magazine stack that almost reaches the ceiling now. Somehow during my last trip to Europe I fell back reading them and now they just beat me. I give up - Magazines 1 - Anja 0. I am constantly trying to catch up, but I guess I subscribed to so many magazines that it's impossible to get back on track. At least I get a lot of inspiration for the kitchen. :) I picked this soup recipe for Spicy Tuscan Soup that you can find here and just changed it up a little bit to cut down on calories. I am very much into healthy cooking!


This is my modified ingredient version:

•1 pound Spicy Turkey Sausage (Love the one from Henry's!! if you are in Cali)
•1 whole Medium Red Onion, Diced

•2 slices Turkey Bacon, Diced (or Centercut!)
•3 cloves Garlic, Minced
•3 whole Medium Potatoes (Yukon Gold)
•1 quart Chicken Broth (Organic!)
•¼ bunches Kale, Roughly Chopped

•½ cups Half-And-Half
•Salt And Pepper, to taste


Preparation Instructions:

Crumble sausage into big soup pot and heat over medium-high heat until cooked through. Drain and set the sausage aside.


Chop onions and dice bacon; add to the pot. Reduce heat to medium and cook until onions are clear. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Slice potatoes in half lengthwise and cut into 1/4″ slices. Add chicken broth and potatoes to the pot and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until potatoes are almost done.
Add remaining ingredients as well as the sausage and simmer for 5 more minutes.


It's really easy to make and due to the sausage and the bacon you'll get this wonderful flavor. I am a huge fan of brothy soups and I would still count this into the brothy category even if it has some Half-And-Half in there. As a huge fan of Kale I was happy to add it to the mix. I haven't cooked with Kale before but I loved it in Germany. (Gruenkohl with sausage!!) Kale holds up wonderfully in the soup and I'll probably try to prepare some very german Gruenkohl here shortly now that I have some on hand. Next time I'll use some more with the soup.
 
I have to admit - I don't trust the american sausage. :)) I have found that a lot of Americans don't trust the American Sausage either and that makes it even less trustworthy. Our local Henry's farmers market makes some great sausages and it's about the only sausage that is not "Made in Germany" that seems trustworthy to me. 
 
I am in love with Henry's. So glad that I can get my organic and local fruits and veggies so close by.
Aaah, it's great comfort food. One of my favorite soups is French Onion Soup. I am not afraid to admit that I had French Onion Soup as an appetizer almost every day when we took our honeymoon cruise. :))
 
What is your favorite soup? Please share your best soup recipes....I'm in the mood.

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