Portuguese Caldo Verde Food

PORTUGUESE GREEN SOUP (CALDO VERDE)

Steps:

• In a medium soup pot, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil, add onions and garlic and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until they turn glassy, don't let them get brown. Add potatoes and water. Cover and boil gently over medium heat for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in a skillet cook sausage until most of the fat is rendered out. Drain and reserve. When the potatoes are tender mash them with a potato masher right in the pot. Add sausage to the soup, and then add the kale. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add the remaining olive oil and season. Ladle into bowls and serve.

PORTUGUESE CALDO VERDE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add 3 cups of the broth, potatoes, and 1/2 tsp salt. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. (At this point, the soup can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days. When ready to serve, bring the soup to a simmer and proceed with the recipe.) Remove the pot from the heat and mash the potatoes in the liquid with a potato masher.
• until no large chunks remain and the potatoes thicken the stew slightly.
• Return the pot to medium-high heat. Add the remaining 3 cups broth, sausage, and savory and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer to blend the flavors, about 15 minutes.
• Remove and discard the savory. Stir in the kale and simmer until just tender, about 5 minutes. Adjust the seasonings with salt & pepper to taste. Serve immediately, drizzling each portion with olive oil, if desired.

CALDO VERDE (PORTUGUESE SAUSAGE KALE SOUP)

Steps:

• Slice sausage into 1/4-inch rounds. Heat oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add sausage and saute until sausage begins to turn brown and renders some fat, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a dish. Reduce heat to medium-low; add onions and pinch of salt salt. Stir and cook until softened, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer potatoes to pot. Sprinkle in 2 teaspoons salt. Pour in chicken broth. Increase heat to high and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until potatoes are tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
• When potatoes are tender, carefully mash them in the broth with a potato masher until broken up or completely mashed. Add kale, a handful at a time. Transfer browned sausage to soup. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until greens are tender, about 45 minutes.

INSTANT POT CALDO VERDE

Steps:

• Pour oil into cooker insert and select "Sauté." When it's hot, add sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned in places, about 5 minutes. Pour off excess fat, add kale, potatoes, onion, and garlic, and stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper, then add bay leaves and 6 cups water. Stir to combine, then turn off cooker.
• Lock on lid, making sure steam release valve is in the proper sealed position. Select "Manual" and program for 6 minutes at high pressure.
• As soon as the time has elapsed, turn off cooker, "Quick Release" the steam, and unlock lid. Taste and add more salt, if needed. Divide among bowls and serve.
• Do Ahead: Soup can be made 1 day ahead. Transfer to an airtight container and chill. Rewarm in a large pot over medium heat.
• Cooks' Note: To make it vegetarian/vegan, substitute cooked butter beans or chickpeas for the sausage and add a pinch of smoked paprika.

CALDO VERDE (PORTUGUESE CABBAGE SOUP)

Steps:

• Pour the oil into soup pot and saute onions for five minutes.
• Add the potatoes, cabbage, chicken stock, wine, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat and cover the pot. Simmer for an hour. Turn off the heat and let soup rest for 10 minutes.
• Serve hot.