Warm up with an easy white bean and kale soup recipe

This week, we are preparing a very simple and tasty soup recipe that my wife has been making for years.

WHITE BEAN AND KALE SOUP

Ingredients

2 cups dried white beans

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 cup chopped onion

1 tablespoon chopped garlic

1⁄2 cup chopped celery

1⁄2 cup chopped carrot

2 cups chopped linguica sausage

1⁄2 cup heavy cream

2 cups chopped kale

Salt and pepper, to taste

Putting it together

Cook the beans according to the instructions on the package. Once the beans are done and in a separate pot over high heat, add the oil, onion, garlic, celery and carrot and cook until everything begins to brown. Add the sausage and brown for about two minutes.

Reduce the heat to low. Add the beans and just enough of the bean water to cover the ingredients in the pot and cook for about 30 minutes, or until the beans begin to fall apart. Add the cream and kale. Season with salt and pepper and bring the soup to a boil. Adjust seasoning, if needed, and serve the soup while hot with some bread.

I enjoy topping my soup with chopped green onions, sour cream or some whole-grain mustard.

Antonio Villagomez is head chef and owner of Cilantro's restaurant and catering in Yuba City, Calif. Contact him at 530-844-2111. His website is cilantros.us.