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Mixed Leafy Green Soup "Caldo Verde" with Chickpeas

4.6

(3)

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Photo by Flavorworks

Caldo verde means "green broth" in Portuguese, and it is Portugal's unofficial national dish. This beautiful green soup is technically a hot smoothie, since its many nutritious greens are pureed together in a blender. Chickpeas are an important ingredient here, too. Fiber- and protein-rich, they've been shown in studies to help people lose weight. For added protein, top with 4 ounces of shredded chicken or add 2 dozen clams to the broth.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
1 cup small-diced onions
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
8 cups mixed leafy greens (kale, collards, and mustard)
1 cup no-salt-added chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
1 quart unsalted chicken stock (such as Kitchen Basics)
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Pour the olive oil into a large pot, and place over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add the onions and paprika; lower the heat to medium; and cook, covered, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes.

    Step 2

    Put the greens into a blender and blend until pureed (you may use a little water to help, or use the wand tool that comes with some blenders to force the greens to blend without water). Pour this mixture into the pot, increase the heat to high, and cook until the water has evaporated from the greens.

    Step 3

    Pour two-thirds of the chickpeas into the blender with 1 cup of the stock and blend until smooth. Add the pureed chickpeas to the pot with the remaining chicken stock and chickpeas and bring to a simmer. Cook covered until the greens are tender and the soup has thickened, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into four bowls and serve.

Image may contain: Rocco DiSpirito, Human, Person, and Dating
From The Negative Calorie Diet © 2015 by Rocco DiSpirito. Buy the full book from HarperCollins or from Amazon.
Reprinted with permission from Harper Wave.

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