Best Caldo Verde Recipes

CALDO VERDE (PORTUGUESE GREEN SOUP)

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook onion and garlic in 3 tablespoons olive oil for 3 minutes. Stir in potatoes and cook, stirring constantly, 3 minutes more. Pour in water, bring to a boil, and let boil gently for 20 minutes, until potatoes are mushy.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-low heat, cook sausage until it has released most of its fat, 10 minutes. Drain.
• Mash potatoes or puree the potato mixture with a blender or food processor. Stir the sausage, salt and pepper into the soup and return to medium heat. Cover and simmer 5 minutes.
• Just before serving, stir kale into soup and simmer, 5 minutes, until kale is tender and jade green. Stir in the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and serve at once.

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.

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 SAUSAGE AND KALE SOUP (CALDO VERDE)

Steps:

• Saute sausage slices in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until browned, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer sausage to a plate, leaving any fat in the skillet.
• Add olive oil to the skillet and heat oil over medium heat; stir in onions. Cook and stir until the onions begin to brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Return sausage to the pot and add chicken broth, potatoes, and pepper; bring to a boil. Add kale and cannellini beans, reduce heat slightly, and simmer until sausage is cooked through and potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes. Season with salt.

CALDO DE BOLAS DE VERDE - GREEN PLANTAIN DUMPLING SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the butter over medium heat in a large pot, make a refrito or base for the broth by adding the diced onions, garlic, tomatoes, bell pepper, cumin, achiote, cilantro, oregano, salt and pepper.
• Add the 10 cups of water/broth, the beef bones, the meat chunks, and plantains pieces.
• Bring to a boil, reduce temperature and simmer for about 30 minutes.
• Add the yuca pieces and continue simmering for another 30 minutes or until the meat is tender.
• Add the carrots, corn and cabbage, cook for another 15 minutes or until all the ingredients are fully cooked.
• Remove from the heat and let cool until safe to handle, then remove the bones from the broth and discard them.
• Remove the meat, carrots, corn and yucas from the broth, leave the plantains in the broth until ready to use them - keeping them in the broth will prevent them from drying out and make it easier to mash them.
• Remove the meat and chop it into very small pieces.
• Cut the cooked carrots into small pieces.
• Remove the strings from the yuca and cut them into small bite size pieces.
• Chop the cooked cabbage and cut the corn in smaller slices; reserve the corn, yuca and cabbage for later.
• To make the meat filling for the green banana balls or dumplings make a refrito or base by heating the butter or oil over medium heat, add the onions, tomatoes, garlic, peppers, cumin, achiote and salt.
• Add the chopped meat, carrots, peas and cilantro.
• Mix in the peanut butter and 4 tbs of the broth, as well as the raisins and hard boiled eggs if using, mix all the ingredients well and save the filling until needed.
• Meanwhile remove the plantains from the broth and mix them in the food processor until a sticky dough is obtained.
• Mix the cooked plantain dough with the grated raw plantains, the eggs and some salt and pepper, you can either mix these by hand or in the food processor.
• Using your hands, try to keep them wet, form the plantain dough into medium to large sized balls, stuff each one with a generous spoonful or two of the meat filling.
• Strain the broth and return to the heat until it boils, reduce to a simmer and add the dumplings, cook over low heat for about 10-15 minutes, be very careful not to stir the soup to avoid breaking the dumplings.
• Using a ladle remove the dumplings from the soup and place them on a plate.
• Add the chopped yuca, chopped cabbage, corn slices and any leftover filling back to the broth, cook until all the ingredients are re-warmed.
• Add the finely chopped cilantro to the broth.
• Place a green plantain dumpling or two in each bowl; add a ladleful of broth with yuca, cabbage and corn.
• Serve with lime slices, aji and pickled onions.

CALDO VERDE

Steps:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

SKINNY PORTUGUESE KALE AND POTATO SOUP (CALDO VERDE)

Steps:

• In a large pot, cook chourico or sausage over low heat. Turn and cook until brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from pot and let cool. Cut sausage into slices. Remove any fat from pot, but leave the cooked on bits.
• Add oil to pot, add onion and cook on medium until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. As you stir, scrape up the bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Add broth potatoes, and black pepper, bring to a boil and cook 20 minutes. Remove the pot from heat and either lightly mash the potatoes with a potato masher or food processor, or I like to use my immersion blender to puree the entire mixture.
• Add chourico or sausage, red pepper flakes and bring back to a simmer. Cook covered for about 4 minutes. Add kale and bring back to a simmer. Cook partially covered until the kale is cooked. Adjust salt if needed.

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 GREEN SOUP)

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat the oil over moderate heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 5 minutes or until onion is tender.
• Add the broth and potatoes. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes or until potatoes are very soft. Using a potato masher or large spoon, slightly mash potatoes to thicken soup.
• Stir in the spinach, kielbasa, salt, and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes more until heated through.

CALDO VERDE (PORTUGUESE GREEN SOUP)

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium low heat; add onions and saute until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add water, chicken broth, potatoes and pepperoni.
• Simmer about 20 minutes until potatoes are tender.
• Remove pepperoni and set aside.
• Puree soup with an immersion blender or in a blender by batches.
• Add Sazon packet, cabbage and spinach, return pepperoni; bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes.
• Taste and add salt, if needed.
• Serve hot.

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.

CALDO VERDE (PORTUGUESE KALE SOUP)

Steps:

• 1. 1-In a small sauce pan bring your navy beans to a boil in 6 cups of water. Once it hits a boil, let sit off of heat in the water for 1 hour. 2-Drain from water and set navy beans aside. 3-In a large dutch oven or cooking pot, add light oil and heat through on medium high. 4-Once oil is at smoking temperature add linguica and chourico. Brown them on all sides with the pan covered. 5-Once sausages are browned completely, remove from heat and de-glaze your pan with the drippings left behind from the sausages. Set sausages aside. 6-Add your garlic and onions to the pan. Cook with pan covered. 7-Once garlic and onion are translucent, add in your broth. 8-Add bay leafs to broth. Simmer for 30 minutes. Bring to a boil and add your navy beans. Bring back to simmer for 1 hour. 9-Add salt, pepper, marjoram, red pepper flakes, and paprika. Continue to simmer for another half hour. 10-Add warm water. 11-Add kale to your broth and simmer for 2 hours. 12-Slice your sausages up into half inch pieces. Add them to the soup. 13-Add potatoes to the soup. Continue to simmer until potatoes are tender and kale is wilted completely. This could take another 1 or 2 hours. 14-Lower heat and let soup sit on low for about an hour before serving. (Letting it come down from simmer slow like this before serving really brings all the flavors out and lets them develop nice.)

PORTUGUESE KALE SOUP (CALDO VERDE)

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large heavy pot on medium/low. Add onion and carrots and cook until softened, 5-10 minutes.
• Add garlic and cook, stirring often, until fragrant (about 2 minutes).
• Add stock, potatoes, and herbes de Provence. Bring to a boil (high). Reduce to low and simmer gently until potatoes are partially cooked, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, rinse kale and remove/discard tough stems. If flat kale, cut leaves crosswise into 1" ribbons. If curly kale, tear into bite-sized pieces.
• Add kale, tomatoes, beans, and sausage. Cook until tender 5-10 minutes.
• If soup is too thick, thin with more stock or water.
• Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.
• Will keep in fridge, covered, up to 5 days.

KETO CALDO VERDE WITH CHORIZO

Steps:

• Spray a heavy-bottomed 4-quart pot with cooking spray. Add chorizo and cook, stirring frequently, until fat is released and chorizo is crispy, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the pot using a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Pour 1/2 cup chicken stock into the pot and scrape any browned bits on the bottom. Add remaining stock, turnips, onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Cook until turnips are soft, about 15 minutes. Discard bay leaves. Puree mixture with an immersion blender until smooth.
• Stir kale into the soup. Cover pot and cook over low heat, about 15 minutes. Ladle into bowl and top with cooked chorizo.

GREEN CABBAGE CALDO VERDE

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir in onion and garlic; cook until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 3 minutes. Add sliced potatoes and half of the cabbage, cook until the cabbage wilts, about 3 minutes.
• Pour in water, then bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium, then cover, and simmer until the potatoes have softened, about 15 minutes.
• Carefully puree the soup in batches until smooth, then return to the stove over medium heat. Add sausage and remaining cabbage; season with paprika, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then cover, and cook for 5 minutes until the cabbage has softened.
• To serve, ladle into large flat soup plates and drizzle with generous amount of olive oil.

MIXED LEAFY GREEN SOUP "CALDO VERDE" WITH CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Pour the olive oil into a large pot, and place over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add the onions and paprika; lower the heat to medium; and cook, covered, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Put the greens into a blender and blend until pureed (you may use a little water to help, or use the wand tool that comes with some blenders to force the greens to blend without water). Pour this mixture into the pot, increase the heat to high, and cook until the water has evaporated from the greens.
• Pour two-thirds of the chickpeas into the blender with 1 cup of the stock and blend until smooth. Add the pureed chickpeas to the pot with the remaining chicken stock and chickpeas and bring to a simmer. Cook covered until the greens are tender and the soup has thickened, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into four bowls and serve.

EMERIL'S NEW-STYLE CALDO VERDE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large soup pot, and add the onions and garlic. Cook until the onions are wilted, 4 minutes. Add the potatoes and chicken stock, cover, and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper, and add the crushed red pepper. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the potatoes are tender, 20 minutes.
• While the potatoes are cooking, thinly slice the kale. Set aside.
• When the soup is thick and the potatoes have begun to break down, add the sausage and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the kale and simmer until the leaves have softened but are still slightly crunchy and the flavors have melded, 15 minutes. Stir in the cilantro, parsley, and mint, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot.

CABBAGE AND POTATO SOUP (CALDO VERDE)

Steps:

• Peel and cut up potatoes, and boil in salted water, with garlic.
• When soft, mash and add olive oil and cabbage or kale.
• Boil uncovered for about 3 minutes.
• Season to taste.
• Serve in bowls with a drop of olive oil in the bottom of each.

CLAMATO CALDO VERDE

Steps:

• heat a large saucepanon medium-high. Saute the onion and garlic in a little oil for about 3 minutes. Add the potatoes and saute for another 2-3 minutes.
• Add Clamato and broth, cover and let simmer for 20 minutes.
• While the potatoes simmer, hear a skillet over medium-high heat and saute chorizo for about 10 minutes. Drain fat and reserve.
• When potatoes are soft, mash them in the pan, then add chorizo and greens. Season with salt and pepper and let simmer for another 10 minutes.
• Add shrimp and let heat through.

CHICKEN CALDO VERDE

Steps:

• Set a large pot over medium heat and add the chorizo and olive oil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chorizo is crisp and the oil is red and infused, about 2 minutes. Remove the chorizo to a paper towel-lined plate and reserve; leave the oil in the pot.
• Add the chicken broth, onion, chicken thighs, garlic, bay leaf, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 4 cups water to the pot. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook, partially covered, for 15 minutes. Add the potatoes and simmer until both the chicken and potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife, 10 to 15 minutes more. Remove the chicken to a bowl.
• Mash the potatoes coarsely with a potato masher to thicken the consistency of the soup. Discard the bay leaf. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred the meat and set aside.
• Layer the kale leaves to make a stack. Cut the leaves in half lengthwise, then cut into 1/2-inch-wide pieces (or tear into 1/2-inch pieces). Add the kale and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to the soup, return to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the leaves are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the shredded chicken to the soup and return to a simmer.
• Divide the soup among 6 bowls and serve topped with several pieces of the reserved chorizo.