Recipe: Plant-Based Zuppa Toscano Italian Cream Soup

Coconut Water Functionality in Stock and Soup

As the trend on plant-based alternatives continue to rise, iTi’s Innovation Team has developed plant-based stock and broth recipes that utilize coconut water as a base. Why coconut water? It’s incredible versatility! Coconut water adds a very subtle yet pleasing flavor when combined with other ingredients. Because it is comprised of five electrolytes including potassium and sodium, coconut water can be utilized as a natural hydration source. Additionally, it does not contain any added sugars, cholesterol, or fat.  

Todays’ trends call for more plant-based options, even with soups and stocks. And coconut water is the ideal ingredient to make them vegan and flavorful. Coconut water provides just enough flavor to replace the flavors provided by traditional animal-based ingredients, while still complimenting the vegetables in the stock.  Coconut water also naturally contains sodium, eliminating the need to add salt as an ingredient. This means no added sodium to your stock recipe!

Check out our coconut-based soup recipe below. Tasty, healthy and plant-based!

Zuppa Toscano Italian Cream Soup Recipe

Directions:

1. Measure out all ingredients. Dice the onion and carrot into 1/4-inch cubes.
2. Mince the garlic.
3. Chiffonade the kale.
4. Dice the potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes.
5. In a medium size pot, heat the coconut oil.
6. Once the oil has melted, add the onions and sauté for 3-5 minutes.
7. Add the carrots. Sautee for an additional 3-5 minutes.
8. Add the garlic, sauté for 2 minutes.
9. Add the coconut water concentrate and water.
10. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Add the ditalini pasta. Simmer for 20 minutes.
11. Add the coconut cream and all spices.
12. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
13. Add the kale and continue to simmer for an additional five minutes.

Serve warm and enjoy!                                              

iTi Tropicals considers coconut water a key functional ingredient and an important tool that offers our customers the differentiation they need to appeal to their consumers. iTi Tropicals offers a wide variety of coconut water products. To learn more about what iTi Tropicals coconut water can do for your product line, check out our coconut water product page and our coconut water FAQs.