Tuscan Spinach Soup
My Tuscan spinach soup feels like a warm blanket on a cold winter or fall night. It is one of those comforting bowls that warms both body and soul with every spoonful. The weather turns crisp and the days grow shorter. During this time, there’s nothing quite like settling down with a steaming bowl of this rich, velvety soup. I’ve packed it full of vibrant spinach and tender potatoes. Nourishing ingredients offer a hearty dose of vitamins and minerals. It’s incredibly delicious. It’s also surprisingly nutritious. It makes a wonderful option for families who want comfort without compromise.
In many ways, it’s reminiscent of the beloved Zuppa Toscana soup served at the famous Olive Garden franchise. That soup has always been one of my personal favorites. I especially enjoy it when treating myself to their classic soup, salad, and breadsticks combination. There’s just something special about those flavors. With this homemade version, you get that same comforting, restaurant-style taste. It has the freshness and authenticity that only a homemade recipe can deliver.
Each spoonful of my Tuscan spinach soup offers a delightful blend. It features creamy potatoes, fragrant herbs, and the earthy goodness of fresh spinach. Together, these ingredients create a vibrant and well-balanced flavor profile that mirrors true Italian home cooking. The gentle sweetness of sautéed garlic enhances the soup. The rich undertones of a good broth and a finishing sprinkle of Parmesan cheese add layers of depth and warmth.
This soup brings the heart of Tuscany right to your table. Make it for a family gathering. Serve it alongside a simple loaf of rustic bread. Enjoy it as a cozy dinner on a chilly evening. It’s a wholesome, soul-satisfying meal. It invites you to slow down and savor the moment. Enjoy the simple pleasure of a homemade dish crafted with care.
I am not a huge fan of kale. And the husband is not a fan of Italian sausage. Unfortunately, both ingredients are what the original recipe calls for. I had to substitute those ingredients for the entire family to love it. I replaced the Italian sausage with ground beef and the kale with spinach. It tastes very close to the original recipe. So much so, in fact, that only a few people I fed it to could tell the difference. This soup is great in the early spring, when my spinach harvest is abundant.
Plus, this hearty soup was cooked in a slow cooker. I don’t think I have ever made a soup recipe any other way but in a slow cooker. Slow cooking melds all the flavors together as one in a great soup.
Cost to make this recipe.
I have calculated the total cost to make this soup at around $11.53 for about six servings, or $1.92 per serving bowl. Growing my spinach and making my chicken broth can help reduce the price of this soup for the family. Including growing the potatoes, onions, and seasonings, a homesteader can reduce the cost to around $5.02 for six servings or $0.84 per serving. That is over half the price reduction. Not bad, in the least.
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Recipe adapted
I adapted this recipe from the Top Secret Recipe cookbook. All images and text are all my own and original to Vintage Mountain Homestead.
Tuscan Spinach Soup
Ingredients
- 6 cups chicken broth, …[$2.10]
- 3 cups white potatoes, diced…[$0.50]
- 3 cups spinach, …[$2.75]
- 1 lb Italian sausage, …[$4.00]
- ½ large onion, diced…[$0.25]
- ½ tsp. salt, …[$0.04]
- ½ Tbsp. dry oregano, …[$0.26]
- ½ Tbsp. dry basil, …[$0.26]
- ½ tsp. crushed red pepper, …[$0.39]
- ¼ tsp. black crushed pepper, …[$0.23]
- ½ cup heavy cream, …[$0.75]
Instructions
- Brown the meat and onions in skillet over medium high heat. Drain grease from meat mixture and put into slow cooker.
- Clean and cut all the vegetables, spinach and potatoes and place into slow cooker.
- Next, add all the seasonings and chicken broth to slow cooker and cook on low for 4 hours.
- Before you are ready to serve, add cream, mix and cook for another 30 minutes.
Tuscan Spinach Soup
Cooking Methods
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 6 cups chicken broth, …[$2.10]
- 3 cups white potatoes, diced…[$0.50]
- 3 cups spinach, …[$2.75]
- 1 lb Italian sausage, …[$4.00]
- ½ large onion, diced…[$0.25]
- ½ tsp. salt, …[$0.04]
- ½ Tbsp. dry oregano, …[$0.26]
- ½ Tbsp. dry basil, …[$0.26]
- ½ tsp. crushed red pepper, …[$0.39]
- ¼ tsp. black crushed pepper, …[$0.23]
- ½ cup heavy cream, …[$0.75]
Instructions
- Brown 1 lb Italian sausage and ½ large onion in skillet over medium high heat. Drain grease from meat mixture and put into slow cooker.
- Clean and cut all the 3 cups white potatoes and 3 cups spinach and place into slow cooker.
- Next, add all the seasonings (½ tsp. salt, ½ Tbsp. dry oregano, ½ Tbsp. dry basil, ½ tsp. crushed red pepper, and ¼ tsp. black crushed pepper) and 6 cups chicken broth to slow cooker and cook on low for 4 hours.
- Before you are ready to serve, add ½ cup heavy cream, mix and cook for another 30 minutes.