Kale Infused Cabo Verde Soup

Cabo Verde's kale soup recipe is a flavorful African delight with kale, spices, and easy to find ingredients. 

The African nation of Cabo Verde is known for its rich cultural tapestry and culinary delights. Among its gastronomic treasures is the beloved caldo verde, a kale vegetable soup that has won the hearts and palates of locals and visitors alike.

Kale lovers, immerse yourself in the warmth and depth of caldo verde. Let its kale-infused charm transport you to the sun-kissed shores of Cabo Verde, where culinary heritage thrives, and every bite is a celebration of the union between Portugal and Africa.

At its core, caldo verde enchants with a simple yet harmonious medley of kale, potatoes, onions, and garlic, artfully simmered in fragrant olive oil. The verdant kale leaves, known for their robust earthiness, intertwine gracefully with the velvety potatoes, creating a hearty and comforting base.

Caldo Verde Kale Soup

Within the realm of Cabo Verde, the kale vegetable soup takes on its own unique character, influenced by the bountiful offerings of the land. Local ingredients and spices find their place in this culinary masterpiece, infusing the dish with a distinct Cabo Verdean essence. As the vibrant flavors dance upon the tongue, one can taste the vibrant soul of the country, captured within each spoonful.

Kale Infused Cabo Verde Soup

Ingredients.

1 cup thinly sliced chorizo sausage

1 pound kale, chopped finely

1/3 cup olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups white potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced

8 cups water

Salt and ground black pepper to taste

 

Directions.

In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook onions and garlic in 2 tablespoons olive oil until slightly soft. Add all remaining ingredients and let boil for 20 minutes, until potatoes are mushy. Reduce heat, add kale and olive oil, cover and simmer 5 minutes. Serve with bread.

Caldo verde kale soup origins 

Caldo verde is a popular kale vegetable soup in Portuguese cuisine, and it is also commonly made in Portuguese-speaking African countries. Portugal has a rich culinary history, and its influence extends to its former colonies in Africa, such as Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Caldo verde typically consists of kale or collard greens, potatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil, and sometimes includes chorizo or other meat. It is a simple yet flavorful soup that is often enjoyed as a comforting and nutritious meal. The dish has been adapted and integrated into the culinary traditions of Portuguese-speaking African countries, reflecting the cultural connections between Portugal and its former colonies.

The availability of ingredients in African countries may influence the variations of caldo verde found in these regions. Local ingredients and spices could be incorporated to give the soup a unique twist, reflecting the culinary diversity and creativity of each country.

Caldo verde is a great example of how culinary traditions can travel across borders and adapt to local tastes and ingredients, creating a delicious fusion of Portuguese and African flavors. 

Portuguese food and language found on the African continent because from 1415 into the 1600's Portuguese traders were major trading partners with Native Africans along the pepper, gold and ivory coasts. 

Also the Portuguese traded along the slave coast and appropriated around 175,000 Africans and traded them to Europe and the Americas thus Portuguese is spoken in a number of African countries and is the official language in six; Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique and São Tomé e Principe.