Zuppa Toscana

A hearty, comforting soup with Italian sausage, crispy bacon, tender potatoes, and kale in a rich, savory broth. Simple, flavorful, and satisfying!

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 lbs ground Italian sausage
• 4 bacon slice, diced
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 5 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 1 ½ pound potatoes, diced
• 1 ½ tsp sugar
• ½ tsp fennel seeds, crushed
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 cups kale, roughly chopped
• 2 cups milk (preferably whole)

Directions:
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
Add the sausage and cook until browned. Remove from the pot and drain any excess grease.
In the same pot, cook the diced bacon until crispy. Remove and set aside.
Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent.
Pour in the chicken broth, season with salt and pepper, and bring to a simmer. Let cook for 10-15 minutes.
Add the cooked sausage and bacon back to the pot. Stir in the diced potatoes, sugar, and crushed fennel seeds.
Simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 10-15 minutes.
Stir in the chopped kale and cook for another 5 minutes.
Slowly pour in the milk, stirring gently until heated through (but do not boil).
Serve warm, topped with Parmesan cheese if desired.

Enjoy!