Sopa da pedra (Stone soup)
This soup is from the north of Portugal and is served as a meal on its own. It’s a lovely winter meal…. serve with fresh bread.
Ingredients
- ½ kg white or red beans (or two tins)
- 1.5 litre of water
- 1 potato
- 1 onion
- 1 turnip
- 2 carrots sliced
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 chouriço (or chorizo) cut in slices
- 250g of smoked pork meat (pork joint or pork belly)
- bag of baby spinach
- 1/2 cabbage shredded
- salt
Dried beans (red, white or kidney beans) have to soak overnightin water before you cook them, otherwise they don’t get soft. Alternatively you can use two tins of beans.
Method
Soak the beans in cold water overnight, Cover the beans with water and cook them in a pot until the beans are soft. This should take about an hour.
Once the beans are cooked add the remaining ingredients - the onion, turnip, potato, garlic, carrots, chopped into small cubes, and salt.
Add the meat whole and once it'scooked cut it into cubes,
Add the chouriço cut up into slices. Add salt to taste.
Add the shredded cabbage and spinach.
Cook everything for 40 minutes
Mash some of the vegetables with a fork, it makes a smoother soup,
If you like you can add some noodles to the soup.