Caldo verde (kale, potato, and sausage
soup)
This is another modest but hearty Portuguese soup. Some versions of
this are known as "soup of the poor."
Total preparation time: about
_________ minutes.
Yield: four to six servings.
Vegetarian: depending on the nature of
the "chorrizo" (similar to Mexican sausage)
Here's what you need:
- a bunch of fresh, tender kale ("shredded" -- i.e. stems
and large veins removed, and cut into very long and very thin slices)
- 4 pounds of potatoes (peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices)
- a medium yellow or white onion (diced fine)
- 6 or more big cloves of fresh garlic (peeled and sliced
thin)
- 4 chorrizo-type sausages, sliced
(we buy ____________________)
- 1/3 cup of good olive oil
- 4 tablespoons of salt
And here's what to do:
- Cut the stems and large veins away from the kale and
shred it -- i.e. cut it into very long, very thin slices.
- Add the salt to the water and apply heat.
- Peel the potatoes, slice them into 1/2 inch slices, and add them to
the water.
- Dice the onion finely and add it to the water.
- Boil the water mixture until the potatoes are very soft. While the
water boils:
- Slice the sausages and brown them on a grill.
- Peel the garlic and cut it into thin slices.
- When the potatoes are soft, cut the heat, and remove all the
potatoes and onion from the water (retaining the water).
Mush these all up thoroughly and return the mush to the water.
- Add the olive oil and garlic to the water and bring it to a boil.
- Add the kale and simmer about _____ minutes, until the cale is
softened somewhat, but not yet mushy.
- Serve in big bowls into each of which have been placed slices of
browned sausage.
Recommended accompanying
drink: Super Bock beer.