Description
Hearty Creamy Italian Sausage and Potato Soup brings rustic comfort straight from Italian kitchens. Rich ingredients blend perfectly, delivering a warm embrace that invites you to savor each delicious spoonful of Mediterranean-inspired goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 lb (450g) Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 medium Yukon Gold or russet potatoes, cubed
- 2 cups kale or spinach, chopped
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Render crispy bacon in a spacious Dutch oven over moderate flame, extracting the golden-brown bits and reserving them while maintaining the rendered fat.
- Introduce Italian sausage into the aromatic drippings, methodically fragmenting the meat and browning until a rich caramelization develops.
- Transfer the sausage and create a flavor foundation by caramelizing diced onions until translucent, then incorporate minced garlic and optional pepper flakes for a subtle heat.
- Cascade chicken broth into the pot, elevating to a rolling boil before introducing cubed potatoes and reducing to a gentle simmer until vegetables reach a tender consistency.
- Reintegrate the cooked sausage and previously crisped bacon into the simmering liquid, then fold in vibrant kale or spinach, allowing the greens to wilt and meld with the soup’s robust character.
- Reduce heat and gently stream heavy cream into the mixture, stirring carefully to prevent separation, ensuring a luxurious and smooth texture without reaching a boiling point.
- Conduct a final seasoning assessment, calibrating salt and pepper to personal preference, and complete the dish with a delicate sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese to enhance the overall depth of flavor.
Notes
- Opt for thick-cut bacon to ensure extra crispy texture and rich flavor in the soup.
- Choose Italian sausage with moderate spiciness to complement the creamy base without overwhelming other ingredients.
- Use starchy potatoes like Russet or Yukon Gold for better soup thickening and a more substantial mouthfeel.
- Consider swapping heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk for a lighter version of the soup.
- Add fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary during sautéing for deeper aromatic complexity.
- Quickly rinse kale under cold water to retain its vibrant green color and prevent wilting.
- Replace kale with Swiss chard or baby spinach if preferred for different nutritional profiles.
- Make this dish gluten-free by using certified gluten-free chicken broth and checking sausage ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 440
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 90mg