Recipe: Traditional Portuguese Potato “Caldo Verde” Soup

Traditional Portuguese Potato “Caldo Verde” Soup

Happy & Healthy Cooking,

Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills

• chop :

  to cut something into small, rough pieces using a blade.

• knife skills :

  Bear Claw (growl), Pinch, Plank, and Bridge (look out for trolls). 

• purée :

  to blend, grind, or mash food until it is thick, smooth, and closer to a liquid.

• tear :

  to pull or rip apart a food, like basil leaves, into pieces instead of cutting with a knife; cutting breaks cell walls more, so herbs can discolor faster.

What is Caldo Verde?

• The English translation of "Caldo Verde" from Portuguese (and Spanish) is "Green Broth." It is a soup made of potatoes and kale and, frequently, Portuguese sausage. It is eaten during times of celebration, like weddings and birthdays.
• Though Caldo Verde originated in the former northwest Portuguese province of Minho, people throughout Portugal and the world, especially in places with large communities of Portuguese people, enjoy the soup.
• António Correia de Oliveira (1879-1960), a well-known Portuguese poet, described Caldo Verde as "a marriage of flavors and livelihood."
• Caldo Verde is so well-loved and popular in Portugal that it is named one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Cuisine. Other foods on the list include Alheiras de Mirandela (sausage made with meat and bread), Queijo Serra da Estrela (a cheese from a mountainous region in Portugal), Arroz de Marisco (rice with seafood), Sardinha Assada (grilled sardine), Leitão da Bairrada (roasted suckling pig), and Pastel de Belém (egg custard tart).

Let's Learn About Portugal!

• Portugal is on the western coast of the European continent, on the Iberian peninsula, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Spain. Portuguese is the official language. It is also the official language of nine other countries, including Brazil.
• Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and one of the oldest cities in the world. Unfortunately, it suffered a major earthquake in 1755, which devastated the city and caused it to lose much of its wealth and status.  
• The oldest bookstore in the world, Livreria Bertrand, is located in Lisbon. The original store was opened in 1732. However, when the earthquake hit, it leveled most of the city, including Livreria Bertrand. Although the original French founder's son-in-law had to resettle the shop in a different part of the city, it is still considered the oldest standing bookstore in the world.
• The art of tile painting and glazing, known as "azulejo," is one of Portugal's most popular art forms. The use of these tiles for building interiors and exteriors began in the 1500s and is still practiced by artisans today.
• Lisbon has the longest bridge in Europe. The Vasco da Gama bridge is over 10 miles long.
• Portugal is famous for its surfing. They say you can surf 364 days a year there. In other words, year-round!
• Common animals found in Portugal are boars, wild goats, fallow deer, foxes, and Iberian hares. 
• Have you ever wondered where vegetables, fruits, and spices came from originally? Of course, they all came from somewhere, and at some point in history, a group of explorers or conquerors would have carried native ingredients with them and introduced them to the people of other lands. In the 16th century, Portuguese explorers dominated the spice routes around the world—exploring, navigating, and bringing new ingredients back and forth between continents. For example, the Portuguese brought chili peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes to India. They also introduced coffee to Brazil.
• You may have heard of Ferdinand Magellan, one of the most famous Portuguese explorers. He set out to discover a western route to the Spice Islands. Known as the Maluku Islands, east of Indonesia, they were called the Spice Islands because nutmeg, mace, and cloves were only found there. Magellan was the first from Europe to cross the Pacific Ocean. The trip was long and dangerous, and only one out of their five ships returned three years later! Nevertheless, Magellan's voyage proved that the Earth could be circumnavigated (circled) by sea and that it was much bigger than anyone had initially thought.
• The Portuguese love to eat cod, particularly dried, salted cod, known as "bacalhau." Salting the fish is a traditional way of preserving it. They have a different way of preparing cod for every day of the year!

What's It Like to Be a Kid in Portugal?

• Family is foundational to life in Portugal, and family relationships are essential. Grandparents often help out with watching kids and may live in the same home with their grandchildren.
• Football (soccer) is the most popular sport for kids. They also like to swim, ride bikes, and play basketball and futsal (a soccer-like game played on an indoor court). 
• Children go to Portugal's beautiful beaches with their families, and older kids may surf. Other kid-friendly activities include trips to zoos, aquariums, and museums.
• Some of the snacks Portuguese kids like to eat are Pastéis de Nata (egg custard tart), Sugus (chewy fruit candies similar to Starburst), Línguas de Gato (buttery, crunchy cookies shaped like cat tongues), Confeitos (confectionary) candy, Rissóis de Camarão (breaded shrimp patties), Sombrinhas de Chocolate (chocolate umbrellas), Arroz Doce (sweet rice), Bolinhos de Bacalhau (codfish cakes or fritters), Pão de Ló (sponge cake), Sumol (fruit soda), and Pintarolas (chocolates with a colorful, fruit-flavored coating, similar to M&Ms).