Caldo Verde

  4.2 – 4 reviews  • Sausage Recipes
Level: Easy
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

  1. 1 pound kale, Swiss chard, collards or turnip greens, washed, spun dry, thick stems pulled off
  2. 6 ounces Portuguese ChouriHo sausage, sliced 1/2-inch thick (or substitute Spanish Chorizo)
  3. 2 tablespoons olive oil
  4. 1 large sweet onion, minced
  5. 2 teaspoons salt
  6. 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  7. 2 large garlic cloves, minced or pureed
  8. 4 large baking potatoes, peeled and sliced thin
  9. 2 quarts cold water

Instructions

  1. Take whatever greens you are using and stack several leaves on top of each other. Starting at the wide side, roll the stack up into a tight cylinder. Slice across the cylinder with a very sharp knife to make thin, hairlike shreds. Repeat with remaining leaves. Set aside shredded greens.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large kettle over medium high heat. Add sausage slices and fry until lightly colored and fat is rendered, about 10 minutes. Remove from pot with slotted spoon and reserve. Add remaining tablespoon oil to pot, then add onions and salt and pepper. Stir well, then cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are softened, 5 minutes. Add the garlic, stir, and cook one minute until its aroma is released. Add the potatoes, turn the heat to medium high, and saute 3 to 5 minutes until onions and potatoes begin to color. Add the water, cover, and simmer over low heat until potatoes can be mashed easily against side of pot with a wooden spoon, about 25 minutes. When potatoes are soft, turn off the heat and use a potato masher to thoroughly crush and blend. Add the sausage, turn the heat on to medium, and simmer 5 minutes to bring the flavors together. Stir in the greens and cook 5 minutes until bright green and tender. Taste, adjust seasoning, and serve.
  3. This soup, literally Green Soup, could be called the national dish of Portugal. It is traditionally made with a type of flat green cabbage called couve gallego.
  4. The method of slicing leaves like this is called a chiffonade in the French lexicon. Important to get them thin enough that they will cook quickly.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 6 servings
Calories 328
Total Fat 16 g
Saturated Fat 5 g
Carbohydrates 35 g
Dietary Fiber 5 g
Sugar 6 g
Protein 13 g
Cholesterol 25 mg
Sodium 1179 mg

Reviews

Andrew George
Excellent. I live out in the country and it is hard to get actual called-for ingredients. However, I had turkey kielbasa on hand and used it instead. I also used chicken broth instead of water. I made a big batch and we ate it for three days. I was tired and just threw the potatoes in without mashing and didn’t peel. It was healthy and delicious. Pat, Waynesburg, Ohio
Robert Anderson
I had organic sausage, collards, leeks and onions on hand. I knew that potatoes and garlic would be a great addition to those items. I was pleasantly surprised to find this recipe when I entered sausage and collards in the search terms. That said, me and my 18 year old liked this recipe. My 10 year old (no surprise) and my husband did not care for it. Changes I would make: I would either cook and mash (with an electric blender) the potatoes separately and then add them to the soup OR use the electric blender in the soup pot before adding the greens and sausage. I used half leeks and half green onions which I thought was nice…the onion flavor was very subtle.

OVERALL, I really liked this soup. Reminded me of a soup by Nathalie Dupree (Garlic, potatoes and green beans), which should be better as a leftover. Think I’ll have it tomorrow!

Edward Hansen
i wanted to feel like i was eating some of my mother’s home cooking and this is the exact recipe. i would add a couple more potatoes to give it a little more consistency, but great for beginners!

 

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