Soups – The Mainstay of the Portuguese Diet

Light or hearty soups, meaty or vegetarian friendly, have always been a mainstay of the Portuguese diet. From the very light tomato-free Gazpacho, created before the introduction of tomatoes to the heart-warming and hearty Kale Soup (Sopa de Couves), these soups of simple ingredients and satisfying flavor can be a meal in themselves, served with some crusty bread to dip in the broth.

Chicken Soup with Kale

Chicken Soup with Kale

  This Chicken Soup with Kale includes lotus flower seeds. It is a soup that works well even in the summer. Although in some areas it still seems like blazing July heat,  a heart-warming soup sometimes just makes a body feel good. …
Kale Soup (Sopa de Couves)

Kale Soup (Sopa de Couves)

This soup Kale Soup (Sopa de Couves) is not a version of the classic Caldo Verde soup. The deliciously delicate and classic Caldo Verde kale soup (Green Broth Soup) is of the Portuguese mainland.  It is served with  a few slices of sausage…
Carrot Soup (Sopa de Cenoura)

Carrot Soup (Sopa de Cenoura)

Carrot Soup (Sopa de Cenoura) is best with freshly harvested carrots. Of course, we all do not have access to just harvested carrots.  Nonetheless, this soup is a truly wonderful one that is easy to make and loaded with vitamin A. It's perfect…
Carrot Soup (Sopa de Cenoura)

Pot Luck Soup

Since there is a lot of utilizing what is on hand, it could be said that with the exception of a number of soups, a Portuguese cook might never serve the same soup twice. My aunt made this pot luck soup known as "sopa de panela" thirty years…