Sopa Verde

This is a delicious kale and chicken soup with plenty of garlic, white wine and that light, distinctive Portuguese flavor of cloves. In Portugal, "caldo" is generally a lighter soup, and "sopa" is a soup with more vegetables and meat, and is often thickened slightly by using potato cooking water, as this one is.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 8  cups water
• 3⁄4 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1  small onion
• 4  whole cloves
• 1  lb  red potatoes, peeled
• 1⁄2 lb kale, trimmed of center stalk, and shredded
• 1  cup onion, chopped
• 4  garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1⁄2 cup dry white wine (vinho seco)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1  teaspoon paprika
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
• 3  tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

1. In a large soup pot, bring to a boil the 8 cups of water, the chicken breast, onion, and cloves; skim off any foam.
2. After 10 minutes, add the potatoes and simmer for another 25 minutes.
3. Reserve the broth.
4. Discard the onion and cloves.
5. Transfer the potatoes and chicken to a plate to cool; when cool enough to handle, cube the potatoes and shred the chicken.
6. In a small saucepan, saute the 1 cup chopped onion and the garlic in the olive oil until tender but not browned.
7. Transfer this into the reserved chicken broth, along with the kale, white wine, coriander, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
8. Add the chicken (still reserving the potatoes) and salt and bring to a boil.
9. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for about 1-1/2 hours.
10. Add reserved potatoes and simmer another 1/2 hour, uncovered.
11. Correct seasoning if you wish, and just before serving, stir in the fresh lemon juice.