Recipe: Kale & Egg Soup

We are back from our short and rainy beach vacation and busy catching up on things. It's so lovely to see all the flowers starting to bloom and green buds popping out everywhere! Still, we have a few weeks to go before the last vestiges of winter are gone, so I'm trying to pace myself with the spring planting...

One thing we are blessed with this spring is lots of tasty fresh greens! Our kale and collards made it through the cold winter just fine thanks to nearly constant snow cover (although the voles devoured a lot of the kale, which is apparently their favorite winter snack), and have been growing quite vigorously in the warmer weather for the past couple of weeks.

Our chickens have also been busy laying up a storm, so we are always looking for tasty ways to enjoy eggs, and I came across this yummy soup... It's full of tasty veggies like kale, potatoes, carrots, and celery, and the eggs add a satisfying richness to the delicious broth, without being too heavy. For a more substantial meal, add a side salad and some warm, crusty bread.

This recipe would be great in the winter as well, but since we have lots of greens and eggs this spring, we'll be enjoying this on one of the upcoming cold nights that still remain! I hope you enjoy it as well.

---

Spring (or Winter) Kale & Egg Soup

Time: Approx. 1 Hour
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 medium carrot, diced
• 1 stalk of celery, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 6 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 sprig of thyme
• 2 russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1/2 a bunch of kale (6 to 8 leaves)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 4 large Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Parmesan cheese, grated, to taste

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan or stockpot, heat olive oil, then add onion, carrot, and celery. Add a pinch or two of salt and a couple grindings of pepper. Cook on medium until softened, then add garlic and sauté a bit longer until fragrant.
2. Add the vegetable stock, bay leaf, thyme, and potatoes. Season with a few pinches of salt and grindings of pepper. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer.
3. While the potatoes cook, prepare the kale by washing and removing thick stems. Stack the leaves on top of each other, roll them up into a cigar, and slice crosswise into thin ribbons. Add the kale to the pot. If necessary, add more stock or water to the pot.
4. Cover and let the soup cook until the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork, and when a ribbon of kale has become tender; about 10 to 20 minutes.
5. Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Taste and season with more salt and fresh pepper as needed. To finish, crack the eggs into small cups or ramekins. Gently slide them into the soup. Ladle some of the broth on top of the eggs to submerge them. Put the lid back on the pot and let sit for about 4 minutes or until the whites of the eggs are opaque and the yolk is still soft. If the eggs break into the soup before they are poached, use a fork to swirl them into the soup, like egg drop soup.
6. Ladle the soup into serving bowls, then carefully spoon all or part of the eggs on top. Finish with a grated Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of good olive oil.
7. Enjoy with hot, crusty bread on the side if desired.

This just hits the spot on a cool evening - or a chilly afternoon! :-)

Rose.


Recipe & Image Source: PeteandGerrys.com