How To Make Portuguese Bean Soup

Portuguese sausage

🥗Healthier: chicken sausage

💰Cheaper: smoked sausage

Chicken sausage reduces fat while maintaining flavor.

kidney beans

🥗Healthier: black beans

💰Cheaper: canned beans

Black beans offer similar texture and flavor.

chicken broth

🥗Healthier: vegetable broth

💰Cheaper: water + bouillon

Vegetable broth is lower in calories and can be made easily.

smoked ham

🥗Healthier: turkey ham

💰Cheaper: cooked bacon

Turkey ham is leaner and still provides a smoky flavor.

Dice the Portuguese sausage.

Lightly brown the Portuguese sausage in a pot.

Dice the onions and add them to the pot with the sausage.

Add chopped garlic to the pot.

Cut carrots and add them to the pot.

Add celery to the pot after the carrots and onions.

Add smoked ham hocks to the pot.

Add kidney beans with their liquid, crushed tomatoes, and tomato sauce to the pot.

Add chicken broth to the mixture and stir.

Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower to a slow simmer for about an hour.

Skim off impurities that rise to the top during simmering.

Remove the ham hocks after an hour and let them cool.

Add diced potatoes and chopped cabbage to the pot and cook until done.

Peel off the skin from the ham hocks and shred the meat from the bones.

Add the shredded ham hock meat back to the soup.

Add pasta gradually to the soup to prevent it from soaking up too much broth.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary