Portuguese Kale Soup

Portuguese kale soup is a super comforting, hearty one-pot meal made with crispy smoked sausage, potatoes, beans and fresh kale all simmered in a flavorful broth. It's just the kind of nourishing soup that warms your soul when the weather turns cold!

And if you want to try more hearty soups like this, have a look at my delicious Creamy Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup or this amazing Finnish Salmon Soup!

I love all kinds of Portuguese food, but this soup alone is reason enough to book another trip to Portugal. Yes, it's that good!

It's a hearty and rustic soup built on traditional Portuguese smoky sausage plus creamy potatoes and a generous hit of kale at the end.

While traditionally made with linguiça or chouriço, this Portuguese kale soup also works well with andouilles, kielbasa or Spanish chorizo if you live somewhere where Portuguese sausage is difficult to source.

Is Portuguese kale soup the same as caldo verde?

If you're already familiar with Portuguese soups, you may have noticed the similarities with caldo verde, which is probably the most famous soup of the country.

The two soups are not the same, though. Caldo verde is usually lighter, made with pureed potatoes, thin ribbons of greens and a few slices of sausage.

Portuguese kale soup, on the other hand, adds beans and chunkier potatoes, so it's the kind of soup that eats like a full meal, while caldo verde is often served as a starter.

What you'll need

Smoked sausage - Traditionally made with Portuguese linguiça or chouriço, but any good smoked sausage works.

Olive oil - This will help the sausage crisp and also set a nice flavor base for the soup.

Onion and garlic - The combo that makes the broth smell amazing. Adjust the garlic to your liking; there can never be too much for me.

Cherry tomatoes - Fresh cherry tomatoes add a little sweetness and body to the broth as they soften down.

Potatoes - I like to use waxy potatoes in this soup, like Yukon Gold, for example, as they hold their shape better, but frankly, any kind you have on hand will do.

Beans - Cannellini beans are my go-to, but great northern or even chickpeas work.

Chicken stock - A good quality chicken stock makes all the difference. I use low-sodium because the sausage is already salty.

Kale - Curly kale is classic in this Portuguese soup, but Tuscan kale works great too.

How to make Portuguese soup with kale

This is a quick overview with step-by-step photos. See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.

Fry the smoked sausage in olive oil until lightly crisp, then add the onion, garlic and red chili flakes and cook until softened and fragrant.

Stir in the cherry tomatoes and cook until they begin to break down.

Add the potatoes, beans and chicken stock, then simmer until the potatoes are tender.

Stir in the kale, cook until wilted, then season and serve hot.

Substitutions and variations

• You can use any other leafy greens instead of kale. Collard greens or spinach are both excellent choices.
• Red kidney beans are a good substitute for cannellini beans.
• To make the soup vegan, omit the sausage or replace it with a plant-based version and use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.

What to serve with Portuguese kale soup

• I love crusty bread with most soups, so I typically serve this Portuguese kale soup with my trusty crispy focaccia.
• You can also serve it with a simple green salad with a sharp vinaigrette that will do a great job at cutting through the richness of the sausage.
• To keep things in the Portuguese lane, serve the soup with broa, a traditional Portuguese cornbread that's dense, rustic and just perfect for dunking. If you can find it, this is the most authentic pairing.

Leftovers and storage

• Leftovers will keep well in the fridge for three days in an airtight container.
• Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave in short bursts, stirring occasionally until heated through.
• I don't recommend freezing leftovers because the texture of the potatoes and kale just isn't the same when thawed.

If you've tried this Portuguese kale soup recipe, please rate it and leave a comment below! I'd love to hear how it turned out.

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