Recipe For The Best Soup Ever: Zuppa di Calabria

I came across a new favorite soup, which was being sampled in one of our local grocery stores today. It is definitely the best soup ever, so I decided to recreate it at home.  It’s called Zuppa di Calabria.  (Which has to translate to best soup ever somewhere in the Italian dictionary.)  My children will eat it up, asking for seconds until the pot is empty… that’s how you know it’s good!

Zuppa di Calabria can be made in about 45 minutes, which is perfect for cold winter nights.  Your house will smell great and your bellies will be full – it’s a win, win!

Ingredients:
1 package Italian Sausage (12-16 oz.) – removed from casing
1/2 cup red wine
1 jar of spaghetti sauce (Stay away from flavors, those that are chunky or those that contain meat)
2-3 cups of chicken stock or broth
1/2 cup cream
1 can great northern beans, rinsed and drained
2 tsp dry basil, if it’s not in the spaghetti sauce

Start by browning the sausage well, breaking up large chunks with a spoon.  Once the meat is brown, add 1/2 cup of wine to the pan, to deglaze.  This would be a good time to pour yourself a glass of wine, too.

Continue simmering, reducing the wine to 3 tablespoons.  Add the jar of spaghetti sauce and basil, then simmer for 5 minutes before adding the beans.

Slowly add the chicken stock, stir, then add the cream. (I think this is when some sort of magic happens!)

Let the soup simmer, allowing the flavors to combine for about 20 minutes.  I have served this with slices of french bread, though my children like to eat it with saltine crackers.  I am sure there is no right way, as it’s absolutely perfect and delicious either way!

This recipe will serve 6-8.

A reader wrote in and asked, “Can you freeze the soup?” I’ve never tried, as we’ve never had leftovers to freeze.  I don’t see why you couldn’t, though.  I’d probably freeze it in small containers so you can take out what you need when you need it.  Make sure you heat to the proper temperature, and make sure you take out enough for everyone else in the family!