Caldo verde - a Portuguese soup classically featuring kale, potatoes and chorizo swimming in a nourishing, mineral-rich stock - is a remarkable dish. Richly flavored and deeply satisfying in a way only traditional peasant foods can manage, it's is simple to prepare and a truly delightful addition to the supper table.
My version of caldo verde is generously seasoned, first by dried chili peppers and then by smoked Spanish paprika - a spice with a deep, beautiful smoky and spicy scent. The addition of these spices turns the broth a brilliant, dark red which contrasts dramatically with the deep green kale and the pale, creamy flesh of fingerling potatoes. Find the smallest fingerling potatoes you can for this dish. When prepared whole instead of chopped they add visual interest to the soup bowl making for a lovely, albeit rustic, presentation at the supper table.
As with all dishes, it is essential that you choose the very best ingredients available to you when preparing caldo verde at home. Nourish yourself well by ensuring that you source your ingredients at their freshest, while supporting small farms that maintain sustainable and holistic methods in their approach to growing vegetables and raising livestock. By making this conscious choice you support your local economy and support your local agriculture, you ensure that the freshest foods reach your table and the fresher your foods are, the more nutrients they offer. If you're looking for a similar soup, but bean-based, this kale and white bean soup recipe works well, too.
Sean says
I found this recipe years ago and have made it countless times. My only changes are instead of chorizo I use linguica, way more smoked paprika, and I serve it with lemon wedges. It's a very good soup. But trust me on the lemon wedges.
katerina says
YES! I just made this for the family and it was delicious! We have Spanish Chorizo at our local Co-Op and I found a mixed bag of small purple, pink and yellow fingerlings; Beautiful presentation and amazingly sweet flavor. I could only find regular paprika but the sausage included some of the smoked variety so I would say I made the recipe as presented, which is a challenge for me 😉 Maybe a loaf of crusty sourdough bread next time? Amazing! This will be going on the weekly menu for frequent rotation.
Thank you for sharing your gifts with the world Jenny, they are delicious!!
Nic Makim says
Deliciously nutritious! I'll definately be creating this with love, for my little tribe this weekend. Thank you for sharing!!
Cat says
Great post. I kind of went my own way with the soup, experimenting with a more savory variety of sweet potato called Nancy Hall. I did, however, borrow the smoky paprika idea and it played off the slightly sweet of the potato and the spice of the sausage perfectly. If I go to using regular potatoes, I will keep them whole like you did--beautiful. Thanks!
Dot says
I made this for lunch today, with Trader Joe's Chicken Andouille sausage......ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT! A bit on the "hot" side, so I may cut back on the amount of chile pepper(s) in the future, but this is definitely a keeper!
Joyce says
I just made this soup recently, it was very rich and totally delicious. It is definitely one of my favorites now. The broth was beautiful and as satisfying with the goodies as without. Like Connie, above, I am glad I made the extra effort to find smoked paprika. Wow, was it worth it! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and recipes here, it is most certainly appreciated!
Shane Kelly says
Hey Jenny, We met at the last Nourishing Traditions Conference and I love your blog and pictures...you are something! I made your "Caldo Verde" the other night and my husband and I adore it! And, being a chef, I rarely ever cook a recipe verbatim, but I looked at yours and thought, "there is no way I can improve upon this." It's divine and oh so satisfying. Thank you!
Jamie says
what type of chili peppers are recommended?
Mom says
I made your Kale Potato Chorizo soup this weekend. It was very delicious. Thanks for the recipe.
Connie says
This soup is soooo good. We had it Saturday. It was cold, and damp out. The perfect weather for it. I found a mix of new potatoes for the soup. Yukon Gold, Red, and Purple. The smoked Paprika was hard to find but I am sure glad I found it. This is now added to our family favorites. My friend who was visiting liked it so much she took some home with her, and my nephew almost emptied the pot. Thank you for the recipe.
lisa says
I was looking for a kale and potato soup, but something a little different than the traditional. This is perfect. Sounds rich and delicious.
Geri says
I have made Caldo Verde for years, but mine doesn't use paprika or dried chili peppers! What kind of chili peppers/
I just use onion, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, chicken stock, potato, kale and sausage! And white beans, which I guess make it more like Caldo Gallego.
Your version sounds lovely though! But I'd need to know what type of dried peppers.....the only ones I have are quite spicy, which seems like it might be too much with the chorizo!
Jenny says
Wendy -
You're *SO* right. There is nothing like an authentic Spanish chorizo or Portuguese linquica. I had some at my favorite restaurant and it was grilled and served with a frisee salad and poached egg. WOW! The garlic and paprika were amazing. Unfortunately, all I have access to is Mexican-style chorizo, but it's not seasoned with cumin which I don't think would go too well with the other flavors in the soup.
- J
WendyK says
Lovely looking and I have made one similar with Italian sausage, kale and potatoes, really good! Bulk chorizo as in this recipe is actually Mexican in orgin. Spanish chorizo is usually cured, like a salami, and is made without cumin. Linguica is Portuguese and very garlicky and would be yummy in this recipe too. Alright, now I 'm hungry!
Tiffany says
Looks delicious! Wish I could have some right now!
Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen says
I adore soups like this - and I love that you keep the potatoes whole! Looks beautiful.
Ida says
Well...interesting...I don't know this recipe...you say it's portuguese...but the chorizo is spanish...
jamaise says
Thinking of doing this dish for dinner tonight - it's a little chilly on evenings - will taste good 🙂
Jessica @ How Sweet says
My hubby loves chorizo. This soup looks great, he would love it.
Divina says
This looks really good. I love chorizo. I will try this when the rainy season has arrived.