No. 1 : Quick Recipe
Sopa Verde – Portuguese Kale and White Bean Soup
- 1⁄4 Cup Olive, Oil
- 1 *Spanish, (Yellow) Onion, chopped
- 1 Head Fennel, chopped
- 4 Garlic Cloves, grated
- 1 tsp Sea Salt
- 1⁄2 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Cumin
- 1 (15 OZ) Can White Beans, drained and rinsed
- 8 Cups Vegetable or Chicken Broth
- 1 Bunch Kale, in thin strips or “chiffonade”
- 1 Chopped Roasted Red Pepper and Olive Oil for garnish
Step One
Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add in the onion and fennel and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes, until onions begin to soften. Add the garlic, salt, pepper, smoked paprika and cumin to onion mixture and stir to combine. Cook until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
Step Two
Add the beans to the pot and stir to coat with the onion and spice mixture. Add broth and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and cover. Simmer for a few minutes, until the beans are soft.
Step Three
Allow the soup to cool a bit and then use an immersion blender to puree the soup mixture. Just before serving, stir in the kale, until wilted. Taste soup and adjust seasonings as desired. Drizzle with olive oil and serve.
No. 2 : Kitchen Scoop
Do you know the difference between Spanish and Yellow onions? Spanish onions are essentially a jumbo variety of yellow onions — larger (often softball-sized), with thinner, lighter golden skin and a milder, slightly sweeter flavor thanks to lower sulfur content. You can use them interchangeably, but its always good to know the difference!
No. 3 : Clever Idea
You can make this soup as smooth or as chunky as you like — I’ve had it both ways in Portugal. Blend it fully for a velvety cream, or leave plenty of texture for a heartier bite (traditional versions often keep it rustic with visible beans. Want to add more protein? Shred some rotisserie chicken and stir it in at the end — it absorbs the flavors beautifully and turns this tasty soup into a complete meal.
No. 4 : Cheers!
Broadbent Vinho Verde
Minho, Portugal
About $10
Think you can’t find a delicious wine to enjoy with this soup for $10? Think again! The classic Portuguese match is a crisp, lively Vinho Verde! This young white from northern Portugal offers bright citrus, green apple notes, and a subtle spritz that cuts through the richness and highlights the soup’s fresh herbal vibe. Broadbent Vinho Verde was created to offer a consistently fresh, spritzy, and traditional Vinho Verde that tastes as good in America as it does in Portugal