ZUPPA TOSCANA HILLBILLY STYLE

Zuppa Toscana Hillbilly Style image

Once you chop your vegetables, everything is just thrown in the pot so don't be intimidated by the list of ingredients. We love soup in the winter and this version of Zuppa Toscana hits the spot. It's very savory. Tomatoes and beans provide depths of flavor. This reminds us of a cross between Zuppa Toscana and a chili. Serve with cornbread for a comforting winter soup.

Provided by Barbara Miller @Barbara_Miller

Number Of Ingredients 18

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Ingredients

2 tablespoon(s) olive oil, or whatever oil or fat that you use
1 pound(s) Jennie-o ground turkey, Italian
2 large onions, peeled and diced
16 ounce(s) fresh kale, large stems removed and cut or torn into bite size pieces
4 cup(s) water
5 chicken bouillon cubes or powder
5 large red potatoes, washed and diced small
1 cup(s) celery, sliced into elbows
1 can(s) tomato sauce (14.5 oz)
1 can(s) diced tomatoes, with juices (14.5 oz)
1 can(s) Great Northern beans, with juices (14.5 oz)
2 teaspoon(s) garlic, peeled and diced fine (jarred is ok)
2 tablespoon(s) Worchestershire sauce
1 tablespoon(s) dried Italian seasoning blend, a heaping tbsp is ok
2 pinch(es) crushed pepper flakes
1 can(s) evaporated milk (12 oz)
4 ounce(s) sour cream, full fat
2 teaspoon(s) butter, in each bowl for serving, salted or unsalted

Steps:

Add the oil to a large, 5-8 qt, steel or enamel stockpot over med-high heat (5 on my electric stove).
Add the ground meat. It can be frozen or fresh. Chop the meat as it browns. There should be no large pieces. just as the meat loses its pink add the chopped onions.
Cook the onions in the meat for a couple of minutes; stirring them occasionally.
Add the kale to the pot. It should fill it close to the top.
Add the water and the bouillon cubes (or powder).
Toss in one cubed potato (about a cup). Cover with a lid. Let it cook 5 min to wilt the kale (leave the heat on 5).
Remove lid. Add the rest of the potatoes.
Add the celery.
Add the tomato sauce. (If all you have is spaghetti sauce feel free to use it.)
Add the diced tomatoes. (If using fresh, peel seed and dice them.)
Add the canned beans with can juices.
Add the crushed pepper flakes (you can add more if you want it a bit hotter).
Add the Italian seasoning. The Jennie-O has Italian seasoning but kale is a strong-tasting vegetable and can overpower the soup.
Add the Worcestershire Sauce. Stir the soup and cover. Bring just to a boil (not a full rolling boil) and reduce the heat to med low (2 on my electric stove). Cook covered for one hour. This cooks the kale thru and blends the flavors. Turn off the heat after one hour and remove the pot from the stove eye. Remove the lid and scrape the bottom no food should have stuck. Replace the lid and let the pot sit for 15-20 minutes.
Remove the pot lid and stir in the sour cream.
Stir in the milk.
Put the butter in the serving bowl. Ladle in the soup. Serve. Some Cornbread or Hushpuppies are nice served on the side or garlic toast but are not necessary.
*Can be cooked in the 6 Qt or larger Crock Pot. Toss everything (except the milk and sour cream) in the order given into the Crock Pot (break up the meat before adding the other ingredients). Cook in low 6-8 hrs or high 2-3 hours. Turn off the pot and let sit 20 min. Add the sour cream and milk. Serve.