Sunday, November 22, 2009

Bean, Kale, Linguica Soup ~ A Spin on Portuguese Kale Soup

The first time I had Portuguese kale soup was about 35 years ago, when my husband and I spent our honeymoon on Cape Cod (Massachusetts). It was the soup du jour of the many restaurants we visited, and once I discovered this hearty and satisfying soup, I ate it du jour; I just couldn't seem to get enough of its spicy broth, brimming with beans, vegetables and garlicky linguica.

I wasn't going to post this soup, even though it's a personal favorite. I have a recipe from one of my local Cape Cod cookbooks that says their recipe is "authentic" and that is the measuring stick I gauged my soup against. But then like homemade chicken soup, is there one definitive recipe. No, they all are; the same, but different. So, I will not call my recipe an authentic Portuguese kale soup, but certainly in spirit, it's a close cousin.

Pretty much I like a hard and fast recipe to follow, and have great angst over swapping ingredients, but soups invite personal interpretation. I have made this recipe so many times, I do not measure the amounts anymore, and that's the way it is with most homemade soups like this, don't you agree? I'll give you my best guesstimates, the rest is personal preference.

Bean, Kale, and Linguica Soup

8 ounces dried white beans ** (rinsed, drained, soaked overnight)
8 cups chicken broth, more or less depending on how brothy you like your soup
3 carrots peeled and cut into discs
2 large onions, chopped
1 bunch of kale, washed under running water, then roughly chopped, removing the hard stems
1 pound linguica sausage, cut into discs
1 tablespoon vinegar
(Diced potatoes, celery, which I do not include)

Essentially, it's throw all the ingredients in a large stock pot and cook, covered, over medium heat until the beans are done, 45 minutes to an hour. Test a bean for doneness. Add the kale and once the kale is done, soup's on. The kale may have to be added in batches, depending on how large your stock pot is, but it will cook down (the way spinach does). You'll want the kale soft, but not mush.

Thinking of spinach, if you don't like kale, spinach is good. I think you could also use endive.

If you don't have linguica sausage, kielbasa would make a nice substitute.

**If you don't want to bother with soaking the beans overnight, there's no rule that says you can't buy the white beans in a can, rinse and drain, and save all that soaking time, which will also reduce your cooking time. Historically, I break with tradition and buy the dried beans that are labeled a 17-variety mix, following the soaking directions on the back of the package.

33 comments:

  1. Katy, this is a soul soup! And I love your soup cup!

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  2. Sounds yummy! I have been on a soup kick lately myself and like you for the most part don't really measure. I taste and decide what it needs!

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  3. PS Love your cup and saucer too!

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  4. I'm glad you posted it because you've taught me something new! Never would have thought to make a kale soup. This is also the first time I've heard of linguica sausage. Thank you so much for sharing!

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  5. I never tried supe with sausage, it an instesting combination.

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  6. Katy dear, this looks scrumptious...and I love my soups too! A little of this and a little of that. What is great about posting these is that even though we all have our own versions....it is precisely because we all put in a bit of this and that...perhaps someone else's 'that' would suit us just fine in one of our own concoctions and we would not have thot about it otherwise. This soup sounds similar to one that my sister makes from Brazil. Not sure of the sausage used ... I had not heard of linguica sausage either...is it spicy? And kale, just learning to like and use kale...so this recipe is timely indeed! Sure is soup weather out our way...egads....where is my ark?!

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  7. This soup is a favorite of mine and your recipe sounds delicious.

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  8. I love these kind of soups with lots of goodness in them.

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  9. Angie, HoneyB, thank you for noticing my soup cup. It's one of a pair that Ole Sweetie's oldest daughter Erin gave to us one year for Christmas; the pattern is one from Lennox. I just love them, first because Erin gave them to us, and secondly because it has my favorite little bird on them, the chickadee.

    Trish, I wouldn't be the list bit surprised if this is similar to one that your sister makes. Brazil has Portuguese roots so I'm sure that many cooking traditions followed those first settlers and evolved with the resources of their new home country. T'would be interesting to compare the two.

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  10. This sounds like a great soup. I've never had linguica but I would love to try it. There are definitely certain recipes that lend themselves to experimentation and soups are some of them. You've just got to go by taste.

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  11. This is simply scrumptious! I love your soup cup too!

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  12. Katy your soup sounds good and my children (Do you notice a theme? Everything seems to revolve around them.) really enjoy soup.

    What does Kale taste similar too? You mentioned subbing spinach (which they love). Thx!
    ~ingrid

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  13. Katy,
    What a cute soup cup. During the fall and winter, Sunday is soup day at our house and your soup would be perfect for us. Thanks for the recipe.
    Mimi

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  14. oh how yummy! i love a good soup, and i really love the healthy beans adn kale! this looks just delicious katy!

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  15. Katy,
    With such a great combination of ingredients, this soup must be perfectly bursting in flavours! Thank you for the recipe.
    Have a nice evening darling.
    Mamatkamal

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  16. Sounds super delicious, sovery tasty. I love this version. Looks terrific, Katy!!

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  17. Wow...this looks great! My husband will love this. I am putting it aside for one of those cold upstate NY weekends!

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  18. Thanks for a new soup to try, Katy! Soup is my favorite winter food, so I'm always looking for a new one. This one sounds like it should have lots of flavor, but has minimal ingredients. Perfect!
    I also love your cup and saucer-very nice. :)

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  19. I'm a soup-o-holic. You converted me. Next week.Mmmm. Am tasting your lovely soup already,

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  20. I don't know which one I like more, your soup recipe or the precious little chickadee cup. How sweet!!!

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  21. Now that looks like MY kind of savory dinner on a cold night! Soup is such a comfort food!

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  22. I love soup. In the winter I have soup at least 2-3 times a week. This one looks and sounds wonderful. So hearty and flavorful. I've found that you can't go too wrong when you add sausage to a soup. Thanks for the recipe. I'll have to try this in the cold months ahead.

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  23. Mmm, who can resist a bowl of hot soup..your soup looks wonderful, Katy. Beautiful cup you're serving it in!
    My soup measurements are always 'guesstimates', is there any other way??

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  24. Katy I love kale and bean soup, although have only ever made it with ham, this looks gorgeous Katy, I will definitely try this version the next time i make this soup but will add potato!

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  25. What a hearty and delicious soup Katie! I love how forgiving soups are.I'm so glad you posted it!

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  26. I haven't ever tried Portuguese kale soup. I looks delicious!

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  27. Katy, this is looks like a warm and hearty soup. Youa re right, if you make soup enough, you rarely measure;-) Thanks for sharing this personal favorite with all your foodie friends.

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

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  28. Love that little Chickadee Christmas plate/bowl. I've got to make this, sounds delicious and healthy.

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  29. I'm a big fan of kale and this recipe sounds wonderful! Have a nice holiday Katy!

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  30. I'm such a soup lover, and this looks so warm and comforting! Hope you and your family have a nice Thanksgiving :)

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  31. This soup is so beautiful!!! I must find some linguica sausages...I so would love to make and slurp this creation :D

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  32. This is one interesting soup. I think I would trade the sausage for potatoes. No, I would add the potatoes. Decisions, Decisions.

    You have made one delicious soup, gal. We have to keep trading our soup recipes. It is winter.

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  33. I have not thought about making a soup with kale...this sounds so delicious! This is another ingredient that I am the only one in the family that likes it....I usually just braise it in oil and add a little vinger, salt and peper to it....but I will be making this new recipe...thank you!!! I think the cup and saucer is adorable!!! Blessings, K

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