Zuppa Du Jour Food

ZUPPA DU JOUR

Steps:

• In a large stock pot, cook bacon until most of fat rendered. Add onions, garlic, carrots, celery, mushrooms and cook until onions transparent.
• Add red pepper flakes, oregano, basil and salt and pepper.
• Add chicken stock and stewed tomatoes.
• Bring to a boil, and add pasta.
• Cook until al dente.
• Check for seasoning and adjust if needed.

COPYCAT ZUPPA TOSCANA

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon; set aside to drain. Add the Italian sausage to the drippings and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and no longer pink, about 6 minutes. Transfer to the paper towel-lined plate to drain.
• Add the potatoes, garlic and onion to the drippings and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Season with the crushed red pepper flakes and salt and pepper. Add the chicken broth, increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the potatoes are tender and cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Add the kale, heavy cream, bacon and sausage and cook over medium heat until the kale is tender, another 5 minutes. Stir in the vinegar just before serving.

ZUPPA DI MARE (SEAFOOD SOUP)

Steps:

• In a food processor, chop garlic and anchovies; add 2 tablespoons parsley, red pepper flakes, oregano and 2 tablespoons olive oil.
• Process to form a loose paste (I had to add more of the olive oil - add up to 2 more tablespoons to process).
• In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, saute softrito, over medium heat, until the garlic pieces are golden and it sizzles.
• Stir in the mussels and clams, tossing to coat in sofrito.
• Add wine, increase heat to medium high, and cook until reduced by half.
• Stir in stock, tomato sauce, and saffron; return to a simmer.
• Add diced fish and cook one minute.
• Add scallops, cook one minute.
• Add shrimp, cook one minute.
• Add squid; taste for seasonings.
• By this time the shells should have opened (sometimes the shellfish, especially the mussels, open before this point and I remove them so they don't get rubbery, then return them at the end), if not cover for a minute or so, until they open; discard any shells that do not open.
• Drizzle 2 tablespoons olive oil over soup and garnish with remaining parsley.