Caldo Verde or Portuguese Kale & Potato Soup

by John VillaPico, NYCRecipe adapted by Irene SaxServes 6 to 8

Considered by many to be Portugal's national dish, caldo verde is found everywhere — in the dining rooms of Lisbon's most luxurious hotels to the humblest of country homes. It's a versatile dish: Serve it as a one-course meal at lunch or as a light supper in the evening. What's crucial when preparing it is that the kale is cut into extremely fine slices; that's what creates the soup's distinctive character.

Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil
1 large Spanish/yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
18 ounces sausage (unless you can find chourico), diced
5 lbs peeled and diced
8 cups cold water
1 pound kale or collard greens, cut into very fine julienne

Salt and pepper to taste

Method
1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until they are translucent. Add the garlic and half the chouriço and cook for 2 minutes. Add the potatoes, cover everything with the water, bring to a boil and lower the heat, simmering until the potatoes are almost done, about 15 minutes.

2. When the soup is cool enough to handle, purée it in the food processor and return to the pot. Add the greens, bring everything back to a boil and simmer for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, ladle into bowls and garnish with the remaining cubes of chouriço.