Not surprisingly, the cuisine of Sweden -a northern nation of long, cold winters- is soup intensive. And there’s no better bowl than the nutrient-filled Swedish spinach soup known locally as spenatsoppa. Leaf spinach is the best choice to make it with, but you can use baby spinach or other greens too. Check out Ann’s Tips for cooking times. This simple, soothing soup is the perfect way to get your greens.
Preparation
1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper; sprinkle with the salt, reduce heat to medium-low and cook, partially covered for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is transparent and soft.
2. Stir in potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Pour in broth or water and bring to a simmer over medium heat, cover and cook until the potatoes are soft, about 15 minutes.
3. Stir in spinach or chard and continue to simmer until the greens are wilted and tender, about 5-10 minutes more depending on the greens you use.
4. Puree the soup with an immersion blender, or in a regular blender in batches, leaving it a little chunky if desired. Check for salt. Serve the soup garnished with freshly grated nutmeg and a squeeze of lemon for extra flavor.
Ann’s Tips and Tricks
This thick hearty soup is a great way to use greens, but you don’t want to overcook them. Here is a rough guide to cooking times:
Baby salad spinach – 2 minutes
Leaf spinach (no stems) – 5 minutes
Chard (without stems) – 5 minutes
Lacinato Kale (no stems) – 5-8 minutes
Curly and Russian Red Kale (no stems) – 8-10 minutes
Bag and freeze any extra for quick meal another day.
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