Sopa de Legumes (Portuguese Vegetable Soup)
In short: A smooth everyday soup of potato, carrot, pumpkin and onion, blended with olive oil, the daily starter of Portuguese homes. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 140 kcal
Sopa de legumes is the soup most Portuguese households make several times a week, often before dinner and often for children. Potato gives body, carrot and pumpkin add sweetness, and a little cabbage or zucchini brings freshness. The vegetables simmer in water, are blended smooth and finished with a thread of good olive oil at the table. It keeps for days, so one big pot feeds the family through the week.
Instructions
- Warm the olive oil in a large pot and cook the onion over medium heat for 6 minutes until soft. Add the garlic for 1 minute.
- Add the potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, water and salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Add the zucchini and cabbage and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes more, until every vegetable is tender.
- Blend the soup with a hand blender until smooth. Add a splash of hot water if it is too thick, then taste and adjust the salt and pepper.
- Ladle into bowls and finish each with a thin thread of olive oil.
Tips
- Blend while the soup is hot, and add hot water to loosen it if needed. A thread of olive oil on top adds richness.
- Any vegetables on hand will work, such as leek, turnip, green beans or spinach. Keep the potato and carrot as the base.
Questions and answers
Can I freeze sopa de legumes?
Yes, for up to 3 months. Freeze it in portions and reheat gently with a little water.
Do I need to blend the soup?
Portuguese vegetable soup is traditionally smooth, but you can leave it chunky or blend only half. Both versions taste good.
What do you serve with sopa de legumes?
It is served as a starter before the main meal, or as a light supper with crusty bread.
How long does it take to make Sopa de Legumes (Portuguese Vegetable Soup)?
About 55 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Sopa de Legumes (Portuguese Vegetable Soup)?
About 140 kcal per serving, with 3 g of protein, 22 g of carbohydrates and 5 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 140 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 22 g |
| Fat | 5 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 560 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
