Caldo Verde

Mmm, I really like a hearty soup with bread. I've never considered this a winter soup, since it can be lightened up for the summer. Tada! Caldo Verde. literally: green soup. This may very well be Portugal's culinary ambassador to the world.

Despite a plethora of recipes, we keep it simple.

Kale, potatoes, chicken stock, onions, salt, pepper, and spicy firm sausage.

Usually, I get more color on the onions and sausage, but I crowded the stockpot. I should've used a bigger pot and given myself more time. This is what it looks like before it's soup.

Kale can sometimes take an hour to cook - other times it only takes ten minutes. That warrants further examination. Maybe it's the difference between curly and flat leaf?

I use different amounts of each item as I feel like. Basically brown sliced andouille or firm chaurico (sometimes, marketers may call it chorizo), then follow with an onion, washed kale in bite-size pieces, and diced potatoes. Add a quart or more of chicken stock and season to taste.

I hope that's all I need to do, because that's about al I do. If this insults any Portuguese cooks, please send me comments!