There is a beast on my allotment. Something that’s nibbling at the few plants we have in the ground. This is what it’s done to our wonderful kale which is all but gone.
The last scraps of kale at the allotment
With sowing season now fully underway, I decided to pull out the final scraps and rework the bed for something new. Rainbow chard I think. It always looks so pretty on the neighbour’s allotment I’ll plant it as a decorative border with a wigwam of peas in the centre. Perhaps the bright colours will put the Allotment Beast off. Blind it with colour. Here’s hoping. So what of the last scraps of kale? With the chill in the air it has to be a warming soup. Something fast as there is much to do for the week ahead but something that savours the curly kale – nibble holes and all.
[recipe title=”Kale, Butterbean and Coconut Soup” servings=”4″ time=”30 mins” difficulty=”Easy”]
A perfect soup for the odds and ends at the allotment before planting starts a new
You’ll need
- 2 tbsp vegetable/sunflower oil
- 1 tsp small black mustard seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 400ml tin coconut milk
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp red chilli powder
- 1 tsp red chilli flakes (optional)
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 2 tsp coriander and cumin powder
- 2 400g tins butterbeans, drained
- chopped kale – about 4 large handfuls or as much as you want to use up!
To make it
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan for 2-3 minutes and then add the mustard seeds and cumin seeds. When they start to fizzle and pop add the coconut milk. Be careful as the oil may spit at you.
- Add half a tin of water and then the salt and spices, stir and bring to a gentle simmer for 10 minutes to cook the spices through.
- Add the butterbeans and kale, cover and leave for a further few minutes til the kale has wilted.
- Serve hot next to the fire in front of a good Sunday movie or omnibus edition of Eastenders.
[/recipe]
Do you have any beasts in your allotment or garden? What’s your go to soup recipe for scraps of veg?
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What a clever combination of flavours. This soup sounds really good.
Thank you 🙂
We’ve grown rainbow chard for a few years now, both in our back garden and at the allotment. it is ridiculously hardy and so versatile and tasty, not to mention it looks very pretty too 🙂 Our Kale is starting to bolt so before resewing I shall try this soup out with the remnants of the old plants.
I think it would work with chard too to be honest. More colourful too!
This is wonderful!
Thank you 🙂
That looks like pigeons. I have had to cover mine up!
Yes I’ve done that with the cabbage as that is miraculously still growing!
I am so jealous that you have homegrown kale. That is something I really wanted to do this year.
It’s a very hardy plant to the elements. Just not to the beast!
Awww your poor veggies. I hope you find out who it is that has been doing the nibbling. It’s inevitable I guess 🙁 good luck with the chard! I hope the allotment beat hates it 😛
I hope it hayes chard too. Blooming pest!
I’m feeling warmer just looking at the photo of your soup – sounds really good, and a great way to use up the last kale leaves. Could your allotment beast be a pigeon? They’re working their way through my last few kale plants here… they have no concept of sharing food!
Yes I think you may be right. Sharing is caring. Someone needs to teach them that!
Oh wow this looks so incredible – I love creamy soups and I love kale! Definitely need to try this one.
Thanks Becca. A staple with any bean really
Oh for an allotment! Although I think that you’re a Super-woman finding time to tend it – I find my tiny courtyard of pots and a few plants enough of a challenge.
Hope the pest has satiated his kale appetite
Love the idea of butter beans with coconut milk and spices – I’ve always used them in a more European way. Can’t wait to try the soup.
Thank you Jenny. Just been to water the plot with the girls. Part of the reason I love it is seeing them running around there
This looks amazing and so delicious!
Thank you!
As a fellow kale grower I do make quite a lot of kale soup but have never taken it in this direction. I will be remedying this deficit in my kale repertoire very soon. It really looks lovely, Urvashi! PS My kale plants get a bit nibbled too but as you know chard fares much better. I love both so much! Pak choi was a nightmare – never growing that again!
Thank you Kellie. I had tiny little shoots of pak choi today. Here’s hoping!
PS thanks for including my green shakshuka!
A pleasure x
What a lovely looking soup. Do you think an animal is eating your kale or bugs? I had little bugs eat all my kale through its second season… still want to grow more this year, though. 🙂
People seem to agree it’s an animal or a bird rather than bugs. But I know what you mean. It’s an addictive plant to grow!
We’re at the end of our growing season – due to the heat. Nice simple tasty recipe. Looking forward to seeing your new season allotment pics.
Thanks Sally. Must get down there tomo
Great blog enjoyed reading it and greet photos as well keep up the good work 🙂
Thank you