Pork and Greens Soup

I love to cook with all my heart. But, as I’m sure anyone can relate, sometimes I just simply don’t feel like it. Yeah, you recognize that feeling, don’t you. It’s called Winter. And it’s coming. But fear not, I have found the solution to your seasonal woes.

This soup came as an accident. I got my weekly farm share basket and opened it to find ground pork, butternut squash, and kale. Sometimes whenever I open my basket I like to pretend I’m on the TV show Chopped and have to cook for Alex Guarneschelli. She is a real hardass, so this thought alone always pushes me to make something good.

I thought wow, it’s cold outside. People usually eat soup when it’s cold outside. I typically am not a fan of soup, and I’m not overly fond of butternut squash, but if I put the squash with the pork (because duh) and kale into a pot with some chicken broth, it could taste alright. Plus, it’ll warm my frozen extremities and I can freeze the rest for lunches throughout the week.

When I had my first taste of the concoction I had created, I was really proud. I felt like I was watching my meal graduate from college with honors after doing some hard work simmering for 45 minutes. It was a beautiful moment.

Level: Easy

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
Total Time: 45-50 minutes

Servings: 5

Ingredients:
1/2 onion or 1 shallot, diced
2 cloves garlic, diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound ground pork
1/2 butternut squash, diced (or 1-2 potatoes if not Paleo)
1 bunch kale or whatever green you prefer, finely chopped
3 carrots, chopped
4 quarts water + 4 teaspoons chicken boullion or 2 quarts water, 2 quarts chicken stock
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. In a large soup pot, add olive oil, onion/shallot, garlic, and salt and pepper.
   

   

2. Sauté until onion is tender and translucent.
3. Add ground pork.
4. Cook until mostly browned, stirring occasionally.
5. Add butternut squash or potatoes.
6. Sauté for an additional 2-3 minutes.
7. Add finely chopped kale.
8. Add chicken broth and water or water and chicken boullion combo.
9. Bring mixture to a boil.
10. Once the mixture is brought to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 30-35 minutes.

    

11. Serve.