The Best Tuscan Potato Soup

tuscan potato soup

When in Tuscany in the Fall, make the best creamy Tuscan potato soup. And, with a group of folks, this soup gets rave reviews! Pray for leftovers!

Homemade Potato Soup

Nothing’s more sumptuous than a homemade potato soup. Especially, when you’re eating this hearty rustic bowl sitting at the table with dear friends and family and in the heart of Tuscany!

But, of course, I’m a potato lover, and enjoy making so many different recipes w/taters like this recipe which is also perfect for holiday meals, Parmesan and Peas Mashed Potatoes 

And, if you’ve not tasted my Harissa Potatoes, oh, lawsy, you’re missing bites of the Middle East in this simple recipe!

Easy Potato Soup

Potato soup is an easy meal to make. And, believe me, it’s a meal. 

When making this soup, use only buttery Yukon potatoes. Nothing else works better for the best potato soup. 

And, since I was trying to use up most all of our ingredients here in the villa in Tuscany, I knew that with temperatures falling and that cool crisp feel of Fall in the air, my peeps would enjoy this belly-warming peasant soup. 

Easy Potato Soup Recipe

Now this is an easy potato soup recipe. With just a few ingredients, none of which are beyond ‘normal’, you can make it. 

And, to make it creamy, well, that’s your choice. It’s just a matter of making a cream/milk slurry near the end of the cooking to thicken the broth. 

If you prefer a brothier consistency, then don’t use the slurry. Of course, the hue of the soup will be more brothy brown than creamy white. 

Creamy Tuscan Soup

Creamy Tuscan soup, and in this case, potato soup, is just a matter of a few steps. Nothing complicated. Everything’s done in your big pot. 

This recipe easily feeds six with leftovers. And, speaking of leftovers, like a pot roast, stew, chili and some other dishes, well, it’s beter on day two. 

To warm the soup, simple put it back on the stovetop (I don’t use the microwave for this warming), add some water and chicken stock/broth to thin the thickened soup, and slow warm, stirring occasionally. 

Tuscan Soup with Kale

Another thing you can do with this recipe is to add greens. Yes, you can chop up kale or chard would work beautifully. Of course, I’ve even thrown in baby arugula and baby spinach is another idea. Adding this feature of green, plus more nutrition, is just an easy step. 

Probably one of my most popular potato recipes that actually is award-winning from Chef’s Roll are my Easy Cheesy Cuban Mojo Potatoes. Don’t be on a diet when you prepare this side dish because it’s full of cheesy goodness! 

Soup with Potatoes

Being the potato lover I am, I oftentimes, put them in general soups. With holiday turkey meals and lots of leftover turkey, what’s better than Homemade Turkey Soup!

What makes this turkey soup unique? Well, it’s the fact that you’re going to use the entire turkey carcass to make your broth. Don’t throw it out. 

And, if you make this Farmers Market Chicken Soup, you’re going to use a deli rotisserie chicken! Those chickens are perfect for several meals. 

Potato Soup Recipe Easy

There are just a few steps to this potato soup.

  • Fry your thick cut bacon. Reserve the the drippings. Put the bacon aside, crumble and we’ll use for garnish. 
  • Saute your garlic and onions in the bacon drippings. 
  • Add your diced potatoes and water and cook the potatoes until tender. 
  • Add your sliced celery, peas, grated parmesan. Thicken, if preferred, with a cream/milk slurry. 
  • Garnish with fresh flat parsley and homemade croutons. 

Potato Soup Ingredients

My potato soup ingredients are what you can find at any grocery store or farmers market. Bacon, or pancetta, potatoes, onions, celery, parmesan cheese, cream/milk, flour, salt and pepper, parsley. Yep, that’s it! 

Nothings better than homemade croutons. Here are a couple that would work beautifully as garnish on this soup. My Bagel Croutons or Olive Oil Cilantro Croutons.

the best tuscan potato soup

the best tuscan potato soup

The Best Tuscan Potato Soup

Yield: Feeds about 8+ folks

Ingredients

  • 3 slices thick cut bacon or pancetta, cut into about 1/2" pieces
  • 5 garlic cloves, peeled, smashed and roughly chopped
  • 2 cups purple onions, diced
  • 8 cups Yukon potatoes, washed, skin on, medium dice
  • 8 cups water
  • 1 cup celery with leaves, sliced
  • 3 cups half and half, half cream and half whole milk, divided
  • 1/4 cup flour, all purpose
  • 3/4 cup parmesan reggiano, grated, plus more for garnish/serving
  • 3 cups petite peas, previously frozen
  • Fresh Italian flat parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Homemade croutons, garnish

Instructions

  1. Cut the bacon into pieces. In a large pot over medium high heat, fry the bacon, remove the crispy pieces to a paper towel. Set aside for garnish. Reduce heat to medium.
  2. Sauté in the bacon drippings, the garlic and onions until translucent.
  3. Add the diced potatoes and water. Water should be about 3 inches above potatoes and covering them.
  4. Turn heat to medium high. Bring to a boil (uncovered) and cook about 20 minutes. Check potatoes for tenderness. Cover and continue cooking until potatoes are tender. Add the celery and blend. There should be enough water to have about 2 inches above the potatoes. (Hence, add more if needed.)
  5. Take one cup of the half and half and put in a small bowl. Add the flour and whisk well working out all the pebbly like lumps. Drizzle into the potato soup and blend. Mixture will thicken. Add the remaining half and half and parmesan cheese and blend well.
  6. Turn heat to medium low. Cover and cook about 15 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  7. When you are about ready to serve, add the peas and blend. Cover for about 5 minutes so peas will warm in the soup mixture.
  8. To serve garnish with more bacon crumbles, grated cheese, fresh flat parsley and homemade croutons.

Notes

You can use thick sliced pancetta or bacon. You should have about 1/4 cup of drippings. If not enough drippings, melt butter into the drippings.

Salt and pepper to taste.

If you want to substitute chicken stock for water to cook the potatoes, that works and would add more depth to the soup. I didn't have the chicken stock.

No other potato works as well as the buttery Yukons.

Add the bacon as a garnish to keep it crispy and crunchy. Some add it into the soup, but I prefer the crunch of bacon as a garnish.

Your sharing is GOLDEN! Thank you!

Your sharing and comments help me stay in business! Share a photo if you make the recipe #allyskitchen Thank you! xo Ally

the best tuscan potato soup

 

 

 

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