This is a simple portuguese soup to make on a cold snowy day or as my mom would do, when she needed a cleanse. Sounds like she was ahead of her time with what is now known as soup diets! After researching the benefits of beans and kale, her cleansing feeling makes complete sense. I have replaced red beans with black beans, as they provide way more nutrients. Black beans provides a punch of phytonutrients such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which help prevent disease. It has a high protein – plus – fiber content; 1 cup of black beans give you 15 gram of fiber and protein! Black beans also support healthy digestive track. The soluble fiber has also been found to reduce heart attacks! This is a superfood, if you ask me.The traditional Portuguese version of this soups also has kale, potatoes and pasta. I’ve substituted the red beans for the black and eliminated the potatoes and pasta because of the high carbohydrate – why ruin the protein-plus-fiber ratio? One of the many things that I love about this soup is the versatility you have. For instance, to make it heartier, add kale or cabbage (finely chopped) at the last 10 minutes of cooking. You can always add other vegetables as well, add them once the water is boiling or towards the end if you don’t want them too tender. Serve the soup over a cooked ditalini shaped pasta for a pasta fagioli style or with rice. Adding crushed pepper during the last 5 minutes of cooking will make the soup spicy. If you like the taste of garlic, add 1-2 minced garlic cloves in the last 5 minutes of cooking. As a substitute for chourico, use kelbasa or italian sausage.
| Servings | Prep Time | Cook Time |
| 6-8people | 15minutes | 1hour |
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 6-8people | 15minutes |
| Cook Time |
| 1hour |
- 3 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 pieces Cooked bacon, chopped coursely
- 1/2 large Yellow Onion, chopped finely
- 3 pieces Garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb Chourico (Gaspars) sliced in 1/2 thick pieces
- 1 tsp Chicken Bouillon
- 1 cup Sauvignon Blac wine
- 2 tbsp Parsley, chopped
- 1 medium Wine rippend tomato, peeled and chopped
- 1 1 lb Black Beans, canned Rinse beans
- 2 15.5 oz Black Beans, canned Rinse beans
Ingredients
Servings: people Units: |
- Heat oil and add onions, garlic, parsley and bacon. Saute ingredients, onion to golden color.
- Add bay leaf.
- Add chopped tomato and saute until tomato becomes saucy.
- Add chourico/chorizo and saute slightly. Do not burn onion.
- Add black beans.
- Add water - you want to cover the beans.
- Add wine.
- Bring to a boil. Boil for 20 min on medium heat and then simmer on low for 1 hour.
- Add salt to taste.
You can order chourico from http://www.gasparssausage.com/gaschour.html