Vegan Zuppa Toscana Soup
on Feb 03, 2021, Updated Aug 27, 2024
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This creamy vegan zuppa Toscana soup with potato and kale is easy to make in one pot for a healthy and delicious dairy-free meal. The recipe is easy to make in one pot and ready to enjoy in under 40 minutes.
About this Soup
This soup recipe features a garlic cream broth with chunks of potato and kale and is inspired by Italian zuppa Toscana soup, popularized in North American by the Olive Garden restaurant.
The recipe is made with wholesome ingredients for a flavourful result that’s perfect for warming up on a cold day and is sure to become a comfort food favourite the whole family enjoys! Here’s why you’ll love it:
- Vegetarian and vegan (dairy-free) and can be gluten-free.
- Ready in 40 minutes.
- One pot recipe.
- Simple pantry ingredients.
- Easy to customize with vegan sausage or white beans.
- Made with healthy ingredients.
- Good for meal prep and stores well.
For more creamy vegan soups, this Creamy Vegan Potato Soup, Vegan Potato Leek Soup, Vegan Tomato Soup and Creamy Cauliflower Wild Rice Soup are all delicious.
Ingredients
Be sure to scroll down for the complete and printable recipe card. This section covers notes on each ingredient and possible substitutions.
- Oil: Use extra virgin olive oil to saute or swap for vegetable broth for oil-free soup. You can substitute butter or plant-based butter if you prefer.
- Chili Flakes: You can omit these if sensitive to spice.
- Fennel Seeds: If you don’t have fennel seeds you can substitue 1 tsp of ground fennel.
- Dried Thyme and Oregano: Use these dried herbs for convenience or substitute 2-3 tbsp finely chopped fresh herbs. You could also substitue 2 tsp Italian seasoning for the oregano and thyme.
- Smoked Paprika: You can use regular paprika as a substitute along with a dash of liquid smoke if you have some.
- Flour: The recipe calls for all-purpose flour but you can substitute whole-wheat flour.
- Broth: Use any homemade or store-bought vegetable broth. Carton or cubes/power/bouillon all work! I like Better than Bouillon.
- Potato: Yukon gold potato is recommended but any yellow potato variety works.
- Coconut Milk: Coconut milk replaces heavy cream in this recipe. The best substitute is cashew cream but soy milk or thick oat or almond milk would also work, just be sure you like the taste of the milk before adding it to the soup.
- Kale: Any variety works but lacinato kale (Tuscan kale) is preferred. Substitute spinach or Swiss chard if you like.
Additions
- Add up to 2 cups cannellini beans when you add the kale.
- You can use spinach instead of kale.
- Stir in 2-3 tbsp of nutritional yeast at the end for cheesy flavour.
- Serve sprinkled with this vegan cashew parmesan over top.
- Serve with vegan bacon bits or try this coconut bacon.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Sauté the onions and spices in a large soup pot over medium heat for about 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
Step 2: Add the crushed garlic and sauté another 5 minutes then add the lemon juice to deglaze the pan, scraping any brown bits from the bottom of the pot back into the mixture.
Step 3: Sprinkle the onions with the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes while stirring occasionally.
Step 4: Now you’ll add the stock and either use an immersion blender directly in the pot or transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until smooth and then pour back into the pot.
This step is going to help create a nice creamy finish as well as break up the fennel seeds for more flavour.
Step 5: After blending, add the potatoes, coconut milk, salt and pepper and bring the soup to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 15-20 minutes.
Step 6: Once the potatoes are cooked, turn off the heat and stir in the kale until soft and wilted. Give it a taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
That’s it! It’s ready to serve. Serve your zuppa Toscana with plenty of pepper and a nice piece of crusty bread or garlic bread for dipping.
Other toppings that work well are cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, a dash of smoked paprika or cayenne pepper or a drizzle of cashew cream.
FAQs
Definitely! I’d recommend Impossible or Beyond Meat Italian sausage or ground meat or Field Roast Italian sausage.
To add sausage to the soup, add to a the pot before starting the soup and break it up with a wooden spoon. Brown the sausage, stirring frequently for 7-8 minutes.
Remove from the pan and set aside, using the residual oils from the sausage to cook your onions. Add the browned sausage back to the soup when you add the kale.
Since it’s made with light coconut milk, there is a very subtle coconut flavour. If you’re really not a fan of coconut, I would recommend trying cashew cream instead.
To replace the coconut milk with cashew cream, soak 3/4 cup raw cashews in boiled water for 30 minutes (or overnight) then drain and blend with 1.5 cups water until smooth and creamy. Use that instead of the 400 mL can of coconut milk.
To make this soup gluten-free, you can use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend that contains ingredients like arrowroot flour, potato starch or tapioca starch (like Bob’s Red Mill or King Arthur).
You can also substitute 1 tbsp cornstarch for the flour. Mix it with a little water to make a slurry before adding to the soup.
Storing & Reheating
- Let cool for at least 30 minutes before storing.
- Fridge: Store in a sealed container for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Store in a sealed container (or containers for individual portions) for up to 3 months.
- If frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Reheat as needed on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated to your preference. It thickened substantially after storing, thin by stirring in a little broth until it reaches your desired consistency.
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Scroll down to comment section below to leave your star rating and review.
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Vegan Zuppa Toscana Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil, 30 ml
- 2 small white onion, diced (300g)
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 tsp fennel seeds
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 3 cloves of garlic, pressed or grated (10 g)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice, 30 ml
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour, 25 g
- 4 cups vegetable broth, 1000 ml
- 2 yellow potato, peeled and diced (500 g)
- 400 ml can light coconut milk
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 cups lacinato kale, stems removed and chopped (75 g)
Instructions
- See notes if you'd like to add sausage to this recipe, otherwise, add the olive oil to a a large soup pot with the onions, spices (red pepper flakes, fennel, thyme, oregano, paprika) and a pinch of salt and pepper and sauté over medium heat for about 5 minutes until softened and fragrant while stirring often.
- Add the garlic and sauté another 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add the lemon juice to deglaze the pan, scraping any brown bits from the bottom of the pot back into the mixture.
- Sprinkle the mixture with the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the vegetable broth and either carefully use an immersion blender in the pot to puree or transfer the soup to a blender to puree then pour back into the pot. This will help with the creaminess of the soup as well as breaking up the fennel seeds for more flavour.
- After blending, add the potatoes, coconut milk, salt and pepper and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 15-20 minutes.
- Once the potatoes are fork tender, stir in the chopped kale and turn off the heat. Let sit for a couple of minutes to allow the kale to soften. If you prepared sausage at the beginning, add that now as well.
- Serve immediately with fresh cracked black pepper and bread for dipping.
Amazingly delicious!!. So easy to make and so so good. Thank you for creating such a yummy soup.
You are very welcome! So glad you liked it.