Whole30 + Keto Zuppa Toscana
This Keto Zuppa Toscana is a low carb creamy Italian sausage, bacon + kale soup. No potatoes! And can be made dairy free!
This is a low carb copycat of the oh-so-famous Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana soup. It’s a creamy Italian soup with Italian sausage, crispy bacon and kale.
I’m using a genius low carb swap out for the potatoes AND an amazing hack to thicken the soup. Perfect for a cozy Sunday at home!
Table of Contents
Whole30 + Keto Zuppa Toscana
If you’ve never had zuppa toscana before, it was made popular by Olive Garden. I kept seeing this soup all over Instagram, and knew I had to create a low carb version of it. Now I know what all the hype is about!
A creamy soup with Italian sausage, bacon, potatoes, onion and kale. Simple, and so perfect!
Keto Zuppa Toscana with Turnips
Rather than using potatoes, I swapped them for turnips, which are my favorite low carb white potato substitute.
When turnips are cooked in soup, they lose that slight peppery bite and absorb all the flavors of the soup. They also hold their shape in soup, just like a potato. You would seriously never guess you weren’t eating a potato!
If you don’t have turnips on hand, radishes would work also!
Dairy Free Zuppa Toscana
To keep this dairy free, I made it creamy using my very favorite method of soaked cashews. When you soak cashews and blend them up, they taste SO MUCH like heavy cream!
You can also use canned coconut milk, but I honestly find that the coconut flavor lingers. For the most neutral tasting creaminess, soaked cashews are the best. If you’re ok with dairy, heavy cream works too!
To help thicken the soup just a bit without using any flour, I blend up the cashews and warm broth from the soup with 1 bag of frozen cauliflower rice. It’s genius! Thickens without altering the flavor at all, and also sneaks in even more veggies.
Watch Keto Zuppa Toscana Recipe Demo Video
If you make this keto zuppa toscana be sure to leave a comment and give this recipe a rating! I love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to share and tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Whole30 + Keto Zuppa Toscana
Ingredients
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage
- 8 slices of bacon, chopped
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, grated or finely minced
- 5 cups chicken stock
- 1 pound turnips, peeled and cut into bite size pieces
- 10- ounce bag frozen cauliflower rice, thawed and all water squeezed out using a nut milk bag or dish towel
- 3/4 cup soaked raw cashews, see notes for soak instructions
- 1 bunch kale, stems removed and chopped
- salt + pepper to taste
- red pepper flakes to garnish, optional
Instructions
- Heat your dutch oven (or large soup pot) over medium heat.
- Add the Italian sausage, and break it up and brown (I like using a potato masher!). Once cooked, spoon it out into a bowl.
- In the same pan in the leftover sausage drippings, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Spoon onto paper towels to drain.
- Remove all but 2 tablespoons bacon fat. Add the onions, scraping up the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic, cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the chopped turnips and chicken stock. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes until the turnips are fork tender.
- In your high speed blender, add the frozen cauliflower rice, soaked cashews, and ladle in 1 cup of the hot cooking liquid from the soup. Blend on high until completely pureed. Add back in to the soup. This will thicken it and make it creamy.
- Remove from the heat. Add back in the bacon just before serving so it stays crispy.
- Serve warm, garnished with red pepper flakes if desired.
- Leftovers will keep in an airtight container refrigerated for 5 days, or frozen for 6 months. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warm.
Notes
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40 Comments on “Whole30 + Keto Zuppa Toscana”
What can I use in place of the kale and cauliflower? My husband won’t go near anything with either of those foods.
You can leave the kale out! I made it today with just broth and heavy cream (in place of cashew cream) and it was amazing. You could use spinach in place of kale!
This is sooooo good. Just made it again tonight. One of our favorites!!!
I love that it has become a favorite Teresa. Thank you so much for the feedback, it really means a lot to me.
Absolutely amazing. We used coconut milk. Didn’t mind the taste. But the recipe is great. Even my husband liked it. It’s a new favourite in our house.
I love that it is a new favorite of you and your husband Kathrin. Thanks so much for the feedback, I really appreciate it.
Made this for a couple of my friends and it was SOOO GOOD! The turnips were just like a potato and the meats flavored the soup, very few spices needed which is nice.
I will be making this again and again! Can’t believe the creamy texture and taste that came out.
Thank you!!!
I agree the turnips taste just like potatoes Maria! Such a treat. I am so happy you will be making it again.
Delicious! My dairy carb loving husband loved the soup! It was so good. I was so surprisingly at your way of making the soup creamy with cashews and cauliflower!
I am so happy you liked my soup Kylie! Even better that your husband enjoyed it. So glad you enjoyed the dairy free way of thickening the soup! I love the creamy texture it creates.
Simply put: Holy. Sh*t.
Sooo much flavor. Lots of work but worth ever second of it. Savory, creamy, addicting. After initial first bites I wanted to chug it!
The cashew cream alone is drink worthy. Love it!
So glad to hear it was flavorful and worth the effort Shaina. Thanks so much for the feedback, I really appreciate it.
Oh my gosh, this looks fantastic and full of flavor and amazing texture! I have aketo Zuppa copy cat recipe, but it cannot stand up to this recipe!
I sure hope you like it Lila!
This was so delicious!
I am glad it turned out delicious for you Emily. Thank you so much for the feedback, it really means the world to me.
sooo good! tastes fantastic! and i LOVE the turnip swap! never would have thought of that!
The turnips do make an excellent swap for potatoes, don’t they Vicki? I am so glad the recipe turned out well for you.
Oh My Gosh!!!!! This is just heavenly 😍 I dont even have words for it. Hands down the best ever! Just made it and wished we made enough for seconds. Definitely making this again soon. Our new fave repeated soup
I love that it left you speechless and wanting seconds Miriam. That is fantastic. I am so glad you will be making it again.
Could I sub soaked macadamia nuts for the cashews? I avoid cashews … can’t wait to try this recipe. I love soups!!
I have actually never used macadamia nuts as a thickener before so I am not sure if they would work, but I would sure love to know Mary! If you try it and it works, please let me know. I would recommend using the cauliflower rice and adding either a dairy or non-dairy cream to get the creaminess of the soup and to add a fat element. I sure hope it turns out wonderfully for you!
Could I use something in place of cauliflower rice? Or even just leave it out? I have tried several recipes with cauliflower by disguising it, but my husband can always tell when it’s in a dish.
I haven’t recipe tested the soup without the cauliflower rice, but I am pretty sure you could omit it from the recipe Kathy. I would probably double the cashew cream or you could try coconut cream, nutpods or regular cream.
I made it twice already. It is just amazing. Leftovers taste even better the second day. It has become one of my favourite meals. Thank you for this very tasty recipe.
I love that it has become one of your favorite meals Jennifer! I couldn’t agree more, the leftovers are fantastic.
Made this last night for my family and they really liked it. The biscuits were delicious also. Your recipes are amazing. Thank You and keep them coming.
I am so glad your family enjoyed it along with the biscuits Shara. Thank you for your kind words about my recipes. I just love creating and sharing them. When they are well received it sure makes it all worthwhile! I really appreciate your feedback.
This was unbelievable! I meal prepped it for lunches for the week and it was so filling! I can’t believe how much the turnips taste like potatoes 👌🏻… made it with the keto biscuits … soooo good!
Yeah! I am so happy you liked my soup and biscuits. Isn’t it amazing how much the turnips taste like potatoes? What a yummy lunches you had this week. The perfect start to Fall.
This was fabulous! This is going into our rotation a lot this fall!
That is fantastic that it will be part of your regular recipe rotation Dianna.
Wow, wow, wow!!! Hands down the BEST zuppa toscana I’ve ever had. I’m a dairy girl all the way, but with Natalie’s recipes you get the same creaminess without all the dairy—it’s mind blowing. I’ve made this soup almost every week since Natalie shared it and every time my family is excited for dinner. If you haven’t made this yet, go get you some turnips and make yourself the best zuppa toscana.
Wow! Thank you so much Shayda! I am so happy you like my soup! I love hearing that it is the best you have ever had. Even better that your family likes it.
My husband and I made this recipe last night and loved it! It’s so creamy and flavorful, and the crispy bacon takes the soup to another level.
Sounds like you and your husband had a fun night last night cooking together Natalia! I am so happy my soup turned out well for you. I agree with you, the bacon sends it over the top!
This was unbelievably delicious. Made both the soup and the keto biscuits. I didn’t have mild Italian sausage so used chorizo sausage blend with leftover chicken and it was amazing. Also, the stores are all out of potatoes so I used rutabagas and they were wonderful! Thank you as usual, Natalie!
I am so happy you liked my soup and biscuits Michelle! I love that you substituted ingredients for what you had on hand. That is what cooking is all about!
I would never think of these whole30/keto substitutes! I love how you come up with innovative ways to eat delicious food!
I am so happy you like my new soup Mackenzie! Thanks for the nice compliment! I guess I am a real foodie at heart. I just love coming up with new recipes and sharing them!