Spanish Chorizo Kale And Cranberry Bean Soup Recipes

SPANISH CHORIZO, KALE AND CRANBERRY BEAN SOUP 2

Steps:

• Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the chorizo and cook until lightly golden brown and the fat has rendered, about 5 minutes. Transfer the chorizo to a paper-towel lined plate and pour out all but 2 tablespoons of the rendered fat. (The amount of fat will vary depending on the chorizo that is used. If your chorizo does not render at least 2 tablespoons of fat, then add olive oil.) Add the garlic, carrots, celery and onions to the fat and cook over medium heat until soft, 8 to 9 minutes. Add the kale and cook until slightly wilted, 2 minutes. Add the stock, wine and salt; cover and bring to a boil. Add the cranberry beans and cooked chorizo; lower the heat to a simmer and cook until the beans and kale are soft, about 1 hour.
• Ladle the soup into bowls and drizzle with olive oil.

CRANBERRY BEAN AND KALE SOUP

Steps:

• For the beans: Rinse beans under cold water. Place in a stockpot and cover with 2 1/2 quarts cold water. On a large piece of cheesecloth, place the whole tomato, onion pieces, thyme, bay leaf, rosemary, carrot and garlic and tie together to loosely contain contents. Add to pot and press to submerge. Bring to a boil, then simmer until beans are tender, about 45 minutes.
• For the soup: While beans cook, fill another large pot with 4 quarts water, add 1 tablespoon salt and bring to a boil. Set aside a bowl of ice water. Add kale leaves to boiling water, blanch for 5 minutes, then use tongs or a slotted spoon to transfer to ice water; reserve cooking water. When leaves are completely chilled, drain well, squeezing out excess water. Chop finely into slender strips and set aside.
• Return kale cooking water to a boil. Set aside a bowl of ice water. Prick each cherry tomato with a fork, blanch in boiling water for 5 seconds, then drain and place in ice water until chilled. Peel tomatoes and set aside. Reserve cooking liquid.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, combine olive oil, onion, garlic and a pinch of salt. Sauté until onions are tender, about 5 minutes. Add cherry tomatoes and sauté until tomatoes soften and begin to break up, about 5 minutes. Using a potato masher, gently crush tomatoes without destroying their shape.
• Drain cooked beans, reserving cooking liquid. Discard cheesecloth and its contents. Return half the beans to pot, and mash with a potato masher until they are fairly smooth. Add remaining beans, contents of skillet, 1 quart cooking liquid from beans, and 1 quart cooking liquid from kale. Return to high heat to bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Skim surface, discarding froth. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and add more cooking liquids, up to 1 quart, as desired; broth should remain thin.
• To serve, add chopped kale and cook only until heated through, 30 to 60 seconds. Place in heated soup bowls, and garnish each bowl with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of marjoram and parsley.

SPANISH CHORIZO, KALE AND CRANBERRY BEAN SOUP WITH OVEN-DRIED TOMATO-GARLIC TOAST

Steps:

• Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the chorizo and cook until lightly golden brown and the fat has rendered, about 5 minutes. Transfer the chorizo to a paper-towel lined plate and pour out all but 2 tablespoons of the rendered fat. (The amount of fat will vary depending on the chorizo that is used. If your chorizo does not render at least 2 tablespoons of fat, then add olive oil.) Add the garlic, carrots, celery and onions to the fat and cook over medium heat until soft, 8 to 9 minutes. Add the kale and cook until slightly wilted, 2 minutes. Add the stock, wine and salt; cover and bring to a boil. Add the cranberry beans and cooked chorizo; lower the heat to a simmer and cook until the beans and kale are soft, about 1 hour.
• Ladle the soup into bowls and drizzle with olive oil.
• Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Place sliced tomatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place tomatoes in the oven and bake in the oven for 6 to 8 hours or until the tomatoes are dried and have lost all of their moisture. Heat oil in a small saucepan over low heat. Add garlic, remove from heat and let sit for 20 minutes. Increase the heat in the oven to 350 degrees. Brush the bread on both sides with the garlic oil. Place a slice of tomato on each piece of bread, season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with some of the oregano. Bake in the oven for 5 to10 minutes, until the bread is lightly golden brown.