White Bean Caldo Verde Recipes

CALDO VERDE (PORTUGUESE GREEN SOUP)

Steps:

• Start by cutting the collard greens. Just stack three leaves at a time and roll them like cigars. Cut them crosswise into very thin strips. Proceed with the rest of the leaves until all the collard greens are done. Reserve.
• In a heavy bottomed pot, add the peeled potatoes, the quartered onion, the minced cloves of garlic, the olive oil and the chicken broth. Bring it to a boil over high heat and then lower the heat to medium low and cook until the potatoes are tender and ready to be mashed (about 20 min).
• Mash the potatoes and bring them back to the pot.
• Using a hand blender, blend the soup until smooth. You can also use a regular blender and blend the soup in batches.
• Add the collard greens, stir, and keep cooking for 15 more minutes.
• In a large skillet, fry the bacon and the sausage until the bacon is browned.
• Add the bacon/sausage mixture to the soup and cook until the soup boils again.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve hot with extra olive oil.

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.

WHITE BEAN CALDO VERDE

Steps:

• Place the onion in a large saucepan and sauté over medium heat for 10 minutes. Add water 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time to keep the onion from sticking to the pan.
• Add the garlic and cook for another minute,.
• Add vegetable stock, potatoes, kale, and cannellini beans and cook, covered for 25 minutes.
• Season the soup with salt and pepper and cook, uncovered for another 5 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.