Sopa de Castanhas e Feijão

Ingredients

• 400 gpeeled chestnuts — fresh or vacuum-packed
• 200 gdried white beans — soaked overnight
• 2potatoes — peeled and cubed
• 1onion — chopped
• 3 clovesgarlic — sliced
• 1bay leaf
• 5 tbspolive oil
• 1.5 Lwater
• 2 tbspflat-leaf parsley — chopped
• to tastefine sea salt

Method

1. Begin by preparing your vegetables and aromatics. Peel and finely chop 1 onion and 3 cloves of garlic. Dice 2 potatoes into even-sized cubes, roughly 1.5 cm each, to ensure they cook evenly. Set these aside as you will use them shortly.
2. In a large pot, heat 5 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic, stirring them gently until they soften and become translucent, which should take about 5 minutes. Be careful not to let them brown, as this can impart a bitter taste to the soup.
3. Remove the pot from the heat and add 1 bay leaf and 400 g of peeled chestnuts. Stir these into the onion and garlic mixture, allowing the flavors to meld without the risk of burning.
4. Return the pot to the heat and pour in 1.5 liters of water. Add 200 g of dried white beans, ensuring they are well submerged. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, maintaining a low heat to allow the beans to cook slowly and absorb the flavors. This process will take some time, so be patient and stir occasionally.
5. Once the beans are tender, which you can test by pressing one between your fingers to check for a creamy texture, add the diced potatoes to the pot. Continue to simmer until the potatoes are soft and easily pierced with a fork, but not falling apart.
6. Chop 2 tablespoons of flat-leaf parsley and add it to the soup. Stir well and taste the soup, adjusting the seasoning with fine sea salt to your preference. The soup should have a balanced, savory flavor with a hint of sweetness from the chestnuts.
7. Ladle the soup into bowls, ensuring each serving has a good mix of beans, chestnuts, and potatoes. Finish with a drizzle of raw olive oil for richness and a sprinkle of fresh parsley for a burst of color and freshness. Serve immediately, enjoying the comforting, hearty flavors typical of Trás-os-Montes cuisine.