Caldo Gallego – Galician Soup

Caldo Gallego is a hearty, nutritious, and inexpensive soup which originated in the western region of Spain which borders Portugal.

In most Spanish speaking countries and in Latin America this soup is a classic but it is just as popular in Portugal.

I hadn’t made this soup in a long time but after eating last week I decided to make it.

Here’s a photo of the lunch I had at Jose Garca’s Amada Restaurant at the Revel in AC,  last week.

Pictured: “Caldo Galego”, Grilled Baby Squid, Batatas Bravas, Grilled Chicken Sandwich

My family lived in Tras os Montes, along the northern border and we could see Spain beyond the horizon.

Spanish Peddlers often traveled through our local towns selling their goods and often stayed at our house which my mother ran as a small bed and breakfast type inn. She made this soup for these guests and for our family.

I was a young girl at that time who hadn’t learned my Geography, that’s why I never knew the true meaning of the world Gallego. I simply thought that it meant vagabond since my mother referred to the peddlers as “Gallegos”.

Through the years my mother learned how to speak Galician Spanish which fascinated me many years later when she watched the Spanish Soap Operas on Uni-vision and understood them perfectly! This map locates languages spoken in Galicia and Portugal.

Photo credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galician-Portuguese

Caldo Gallego

Ingredients:

1/2 pound of diced presunto, salt pork or baco

2 large potatoes cut into 1 inch cubes

2 cloves of garlic chopped

1 bay leaf

2 large cans of Great northern or cannelloni Beans (You may also use red beans)

8 cups of water or low sodium chicken broth

1 Ham bone (optional)

1 large onion diced

1 large turnip diced (optional)

1 large sliced chourica or linguica sausage

1 lb chopped collard greens (You may substitute with kale, mustard greens or kale)

2 tbsp olive oil

*Salt only if needed since the presunto has a lot of salt

Directions: