Portuguese Bean And Veggie Soup

Total Time: 2 hrs 25 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 lb dried kidney beans
• 1 lb smoked ham hock
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 3/4 cup carrot, diced
• 4 cups cabbage, shredded
• 1 large potato, pared and diced
• 2 teaspoons salt (or to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 (10 ounce) package spinach, frozen chopped

Recipe

• 1 wash and pick over beans, place in a kettle, add water to cover and boil for 2 minutes. remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 1 hour. check occasionally to make sure the beans are covered with water.
• 2 drain beans, return to the kettle along with the ham hocks and add enough water to cover the beans. bring to a boil, lower heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour.
• 3 remove the ham hocks, cool slightly, cut the meat from the bones and dice.
• 4 heat oil in a large skillet, saute the onions and garlic until tender, about 3 minutes. add meat and carrots, and saute 3 minutes more. add mixture to the kettle with the cabbage, potato, salt and pepper and 1 quart of water. bring to a boil, lower heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
• 5 add spinach and cook 2 minutes longer.