Aimee’s Portuguese soup
As we settle into winter, our bodies are craving warmth and comfort, this wholesome Portuguese Chourico & Kale Soup is the perfect remedy. My good friend Aimee sent me this recipe and now I make it all the time. She she says this soup is “nutritious and nourishing at the same time.” In Chinese Medicine, pork is a wonderful food that nourishes weakness by supporting qi and blood within the body, moistening dryness and nurturing yin.
Pork is a wonderful source for boosting selenium levels in the body. Proper levels of selenium are known to help avoid complications such as miscarriage, preeclampsia, preterm labour, gestational diabetes & intrauterine growth restriction.
Pork also contains Vitamin B6 which is one of the most important vitamins for supporting fertility as it helps to bring hormonal activity within the body to homeostasis.
For fertility, it is beneficial to eat more pork especially during the menstrual phase of your cycle because it will nourish blood within the body. Pork specifically nourishes the kidneys, spleen, and stomach in Chinese Medicine; these organs are essential in supporting healthy conception.
There are specific methods of meat preparation that reduce toxicity and maximize their therapeutic effects. For this recipe we recommend cooking the pork in the broth with ginger root. Ginger helps rid the body of the acids and toxins from meat. Marjoram may also be used in cooking to help the liver digest the fats in meat. Vegetables, specifically leafy greens, also aid in the digestion of meat proteins and fats; which is why this sausage & kale soup is so wonderfully nourishing.
Kale is one of the best leafy greens (along with spinach or Swiss chard) to support & boost fertility as it is high in folate, which is essential in preventing neural tube defects during pregnancy. Kale contains a phytonutrient known as indole-3-carbinol, that has been shown to have beneficial effects on balancing estrogen. Kale is also rich in nutrients such as iron, calcium, manganese, and vitamin A, which promote healthy red blood cells, support fertility and healthy conception.
I prefer to use bone broth instead of water as the base of this soup for a more nutritious meal. Feel free to use my bone broth recipe & read more about its benefits.
Ingredients
2 tbsp organic extra-virgin olive oil
3 potatoes
2 onions
4-6 garlic cloves
1-2 pieces of ginger root
2 bay leaves
1 pound organic kale
Sea salt & pepper to taste
15 oz of chick peas (or any bean, such as Navy beans).
1 can diced tomatoes
1 pound diced chourico sausage, casing removed
1 quart organic bone broth
Warm, sprouted whole grain bread (to serve)
Directions
• Peel & dice potatoes, onions & garlic, chop kale into coarse pieces and set aside
• Using a deep soup pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Stir in ginger, potatoes and onions, sauté about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add in garlic, bay leaves, seasonings to taste, and kale. Cover and let greens wilt for about 2 minutes.
• Stir in chickpeas, tomatoes, chourico, and bone broth to the pot, bringing everything to a full boil.
• Once boiling, reduce heat back to medium and cook until potatoes are tender
• Serve soup with warm bread and ghee.
Aimee’s Tips
“This recipe is so versatile, you can add whatever you have in your home, such as any type of bean, potato, sausage, or leafy green. If you want a little kick you can even add some jalapeño!” Aimee also mentioned she will heat up leftovers for breakfast and add a fried egg on top.