VIP Recipe(s): Keto Focaccia and Zuppa Toscana
Instead of one recipe, this week I want to share with you a whole meal! I haven't published these recipes anywhere else!
This week my mom’s dog Mabel passed away after 16 years, on the day before my mom’s birthday. Naturally, I told her I’d make her anything she wanted for her birthday.
My mom, let me tell you. She’s a keto rockstar. She re-started keto 9 months ago while on blood pressure meds, a fistful of potassium she needed to take every day, Hashimoto Disease, and the list continues. Nine months later she doesn’t need to take any of those meds anymore and has essentially reversed Hashimoto. She’s been pretty strict and has followed a fairly carnivore version of keto most days, paired with some fasting. It’s been an incredible transformation to watch. She’s also lost 60lbs.
For her birthday, she requested keto focaccia bread and “the Olive Garden soup” aka Zuppa Toscana aka Tuscan Soup. Comfort food, I totally get it, and I’m totally here for that. I’ve been dying to use my Instant Pot more, so I made it in the Instant Pot, but I swear you could just as easily make it on the stove by simply heating it up and letting it simmer for about 30 minutes so the flavors meld. Also, I made keto focaccia bread which was SO GOOD. I’ll show you how to make both below.
A few notes:
Sausage: When it comes to the sausage, personally I like mine spicy so I do half and half with the sweet and spicy Italian sausage, but if you don’t like it spicy, I would just do two lbs of the sweet and add some red pepper flakes for your desired spiciness.
Broth: If you use regular broth (with salt) and you’re not using a pressure cooker to heat the soup, the 30-minute cook cycle can make it cook down and get extra salty, so I would use a low-sodium broth and salt to taste later.
Zuppa Toscana
Makes: 16 cups (about a gallon)