dish
Caldo Verde
Portugal's most beloved soup — finely shredded collard greens in a potato broth with a slice of chouriço.
Caldo verde is Portugal's national soup, a silky potato broth crowned with hair-thin ribbons of couve galega (collard greens) and a round of chouriço floating on top. Originating in the Minho region, it has spread to every corner of the country and is served at everything from humble family dinners to state banquets.
The key to authentic caldo verde is the couve galega, a tall-stemmed cabbage specific to Portugal, sliced into the finest possible strips using a special technique. The soup is finished with a generous drizzle of olive oil. Simple, nourishing, and comforting, caldo verde is inseparable from Portuguese identity and is served at every Santos Populares festival.