Mixed Leafy Green Soup "Caldo Verde" with Chickpeas

A hearty Portuguese-inspired soup featuring a blend of leafy greens, chickpeas, and aromatics in a chicken stock base. This nutritious soup combines pureed greens with whole chickpeas for a satisfying texture and rich flavor.

4 servings

28 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•1½ teaspoons olive oil
•4 teaspoons chopped garlic
•1 cup small-diced onions
•1 teaspoon smoked paprika
•8 cups mixed leafy greens
•1 cup chickpeas
•1 quart unsalted chicken stock
•to taste salt
•to taste black pepper

Cooking Instructions

1.
Pour the olive oil into a large pot, and place over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add the onions and paprika; lower the heat to medium; and cook, covered, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes.
5 min
2.
Put the greens into a blender and blend until pureed (you may use a little water to help, or use the wand tool that comes with some blenders to force the greens to blend without water). Pour this mixture into the pot, increase the heat to high, and cook until the water has evaporated from the greens.
8 min
3.
Pour two-thirds of the chickpeas into the blender with 1 cup of the stock and blend until smooth. Add the pureed chickpeas to the pot with the remaining chicken stock and chickpeas and bring to a simmer. Cook covered until the greens are tender and the soup has thickened, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into four bowls and serve.
15 min

Cooking Instructions

Pour the olive oil into a large pot, and place over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add the onions and paprika; lower the heat to medium; and cook, covered, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes.

5 min

Put the greens into a blender and blend until pureed (you may use a little water to help, or use the wand tool that comes with some blenders to force the greens to blend without water). Pour this mixture into the pot, increase the heat to high, and cook until the water has evaporated from the greens.

8 min

Pour two-thirds of the chickpeas into the blender with 1 cup of the stock and blend until smooth. Add the pureed chickpeas to the pot with the remaining chicken stock and chickpeas and bring to a simmer. Cook covered until the greens are tender and the soup has thickened, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into four bowls and serve.

15 min