Light Zuppa Tuscana Soup
This Light Zuppa Tuscana Soup is a healthier version of the original without sacrificing flavor!
We eat soups almost weekly.
Call me crazy, but it’s our favorite dinner!
I find it to be so easy to throw the last of our produce hidden in the bottom of our refrigerator in a pot of stock and season, season, season.
I have been making various versions of this Light Zuppa Tuscana Soup for years now.
Of course, the idea came to me after eating Olive Garden’s famous recipe. I still remember when we got our very own Olive Garden.
I thought our small South Dakota town had really made it. Ha!
Years ago, the $4.99 all you can eat soup, salad, and bread sticks had my heart!
Nowadays, homemade soup recipes occupy that heart space. There’s nothing better than homemade!
Recently, I made this skinny version for a family dinner and it was a hit! Everyone loved it and the majority asked for seconds.
What more could a cook ask for? 🙂
To make this low carb Light Zuppa Toscana healthier than the original version I substituted ground turkey sausage for pork sausage and half & half for heavy whipping cream.
Skinny Zuppa Tuscana Soup + BONUS Skinniest Zuppa Tuscana version! #cleaneating #sammisrecipes Share on XI also wanted to share with you my even skinnier version that is super low in calories and dairy free!
In that recipe, I use turkey sausage, turkey bacon, cauliflower in place of potatoes, and plain unsweetened almond milk in place of half & half.
Told ya, like super-duper healthified!
Low Calorie Zuppa Toscana Soup
- 4 slices turkey bacon, chopped
- 1 lb spicy ground turkey sausage
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 cups cauliflower florets
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth (LOVE Kettle & Fire bone broth in this soup! “HappiHomemade” saves you 20%)
- 3 cups water
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder or 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 4 cups kale, chopped or torn into small pieces
- 1 cup plain unsweetened almond milk
Make this soup according to the original directions below EXCEPT you will not have the extra bacon fat to use to brown the ground sausage. You may need to add a little coconut oil to the pan when cooking the bacon as turkey bacon does not contain much fat.
I am dying to know, which version are you making today? Both are absolutely delish! Enjoy!
Light Zuppa Tuscana Soup
Equipment
- soup ladle
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 pound ground turkey sausage
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 red potatoes, chopped into 1/2-3/4" pieces
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 4 cups water
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 4 cups kale, chopped or torn into small pieces
- 1/2 cup half & half
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a large soup pot over medium-high heat, add the chopped bacon and cook until browned/crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan and let drain on a paper towel lined plate.4 slices bacon, chopped
- To that same pot over medium-high heat, add the raw turkey sausage and brown. Remove the browned sausage and place on the plate of bacon.1 pound ground turkey sausage
- To the soup pot, add the chopped onion and potatoes to the rest of the bacon drippings (if none left, spray the bottom of the pot with non-stick cooking spray) and sauté on medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes.1 onion, diced, 4 red potatoes, chopped into 1/2-3/4" pieces
- Pour in the broth, water, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.4 cups vegetable or chicken broth, 4 cups water, 2 teaspoons minced garlic, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Turn the burner off and stir in the kale, half & half, salt, and pepper. Let the soup sit, covered, for 15 minutes to allow the kale to soften and the flavors to infuse.4 cups kale, chopped or torn into small pieces, 1/2 cup half & half, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Taste and add more seasonings, if desired. Top each bowl with a few shavings of fresh Parmesan!
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Just like the Olive Garden version…only better!
There’s really nothing better than home-cooked meals. It’s always nice to have control over what goes into your food. This soup looks yummy!
Thanks for sharing it over at Food Friday. Hope to see you again! 🙂
I couldn’t agree more! My daughter just told me that her favorite restaurant is home. I have to say it melted my heart a little bit. <3 Thanks for hosting such a fun party, Kriska. "See" you soon 🙂
Yum! I love a good soup in the winter! Thanks for sharing at Homestead Blog Hop!
Oh me too, Liz! Is there anything better on a cold day? Thanks for swinging by and stay warm this winter 🙂
Your Skinny Zuppa Tuscana Soup looks amazing! Hope you are having a great weekend and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
I appreciate your kind words, Miz Helen. 🙂 I hope you are able to enjoy a big bowl of this hearty soup during these cold winter days!
This is my favorite soup! My husband makes a version at home, but I can’t wait to try this lighter version. Thanks for linking up at Sunday Fitness & Food 🙂
Yum! You will have to see how this one compares to your husband’s version 🙂 Thanks for hanging out, Angela!
I love how you’ve made this hearty and satisfying soup skinny, Sammi. It looks so delicious. Tweeted and pinned. Thank you for sharing it with us at Hearth and Soul.
Thanks April! I love both versions and thought others would too 🙂 I appreciate you stopping by and sharing this recipe with your followers!
This looks amazing! May I share this on a clean eating collection post on my blog? Set to publish on Tuesday
Hey girl! Absolutely! Share all you want as long as you link back to my site. Thanks, Ashley! I wish you a blessed 2017 🙂
oh, of course a link back! I’ll let you know when it goes live 🙂
Well ….I know what we’re having for dinner tonight! Serendipitously, I even have fresh kale! Thanks for a beautiful recipe.
It was meant to be! Don’t you just love kale? Mmmmm, it is fabulous is this recipe. Thanks for stopping by and I can’t wait for you to enjoy this hearty soup. 🙂