Caldo Verde (Portuguese Green Soup)

This is how I make Caldo Verde, a very popular soup in Portugal. You can omit the linguica or chourico to be a lovely vegetarian pottage.

Ingredients

1 onion, roughly chopped
1 clove of garlic, crushed and roughly chopped
6 tablespoons of olive oil
6 medium sized potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped
1 litre water
200 grams linguica or chourico sausage, sliced very thinly (alternatively use a strong garlic flavoured sausage)
1 large carrot, roughly chopped
200 grams couve galega, very finely shreaded into strips (alternatively use kale or turnip greens)
Salt to taste

Method

1. Heat olive oil in large pot and sweat onion and garlic, with the lid on for 10 minutes on a low heat.
2. Add water, then add potatoes, and carrot.
3. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes.
4. Take of the heat and blend.
5. Return to the heat and add the greens, sausage and salt to taste. Simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes.
6. Serve with warmed crusty bread and a drizzle of olive oil.

...and that's how to make Caldo Verde!