Caldo Gallego

Caldo Gallego

When I was about 3 years old I had a babysitter from Galicia that used to make me this dish.  I remember going home and bragging about the delicious food I had every day.

Caldo Gallego is a white bean soup from Spain but for me this is way more than just another bean soup.  I almost feel like the character in the Ratatouille movie when he took the first bite and that just took him back to his childhood… I know this sounds really silly but that’s how I feel when I eat this soup.  I think that’s why Ratatouille is one of my favorite movies.

I’ve been trying to remember who gave me this recipe a few years ago.  There are many other recipes online but this one is a great one.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 8 cups low sodium chicken stock
  • 2 small smoked ham hock
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 slice Spanish chorizo
  • 1 smoked sausage, like Polish Kielbasa, sliced
  • 1 lb white cannellini  beans, rinsed and soaked in cold water overnight.
  • 4 small potatoes, peeled and diced into small cubes
  • 2 turnips, peeled and diced into small cubes
  • 3 cups diced kale, chard or turnip greens

 

Heat olive oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat.  Add onion and cook until translucent, add garlic and cook for 2 minutes.   Add sliced sausage and chorizo and cook for 3-4 minutes.

Add chicken stock, ham hock and drained beans.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and let it simmer uncovered 1 hour.  Add potatoes, turnips and kale and cook for another 1/2 hour.

If the soup gets too thick you can add a little water.