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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circusgardener says
19th April 2015 at 5:09 pmWhat a clever combination of flavours. This soup sounds really good.
Urvashi Roe says
19th April 2015 at 10:37 pmThank you 🙂
Michelle Utterlyscrummy says
19th April 2015 at 5:30 pmWe’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.
Urvashi Roe says
19th April 2015 at 10:36 pmI think it would work with chard too to be honest. More colourful too!
superfitbabe says
19th April 2015 at 6:08 pmThis is wonderful!
Urvashi Roe says
19th April 2015 at 10:36 pmThank you 🙂
thefernsfletcher says
19th April 2015 at 6:55 pmThat looks like pigeons. I have had to cover mine up!
Urvashi Roe says
19th April 2015 at 10:35 pmYes I’ve done that with the cabbage as that is miraculously still growing!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
19th April 2015 at 9:05 pmI am so jealous that you have homegrown kale. That is something I really wanted to do this year.
Urvashi Roe says
19th April 2015 at 10:34 pmIt’s a very hardy plant to the elements. Just not to the beast!
efwalt says
19th April 2015 at 9:07 pmAwww 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 😛
Urvashi Roe says
19th April 2015 at 10:33 pmI hope it hayes chard too. Blooming pest!
thegardendeli says
19th April 2015 at 9:58 pmI’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!
Urvashi Roe says
19th April 2015 at 10:33 pmYes I think you may be right. Sharing is caring. Someone needs to teach them that!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
20th April 2015 at 8:54 amOh wow this looks so incredible – I love creamy soups and I love kale! Definitely need to try this one.
Urvashi Roe says
20th April 2015 at 6:11 pmThanks Becca. A staple with any bean really
Jenny Chandler says
20th April 2015 at 2:11 pmOh 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.
Urvashi Roe says
20th April 2015 at 6:09 pmThank you Jenny. Just been to water the plot with the girls. Part of the reason I love it is seeing them running around there
Jasline @ Foodie Baker says
20th April 2015 at 8:17 pmThis looks amazing and so delicious!
Urvashi Roe says
20th April 2015 at 8:23 pmThank you!
kellie anderson says
21st April 2015 at 8:56 amAs 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!
Urvashi Roe says
21st April 2015 at 9:21 pmThank you Kellie. I had tiny little shoots of pak choi today. Here’s hoping!
kellie anderson says
21st April 2015 at 8:57 amPS thanks for including my green shakshuka!
Urvashi Roe says
21st April 2015 at 9:21 pmA pleasure x
janet @ the taste space says
21st April 2015 at 3:47 pmWhat 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. 🙂
Urvashi Roe says
21st April 2015 at 9:23 pmPeople 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!
Sally says
5th May 2015 at 6:45 amWe’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.
Urvashi Roe says
6th May 2015 at 8:17 pmThanks Sally. Must get down there tomo
dave says
23rd May 2015 at 11:47 pmGreat blog enjoyed reading it and greet photos as well keep up the good work 🙂
Urvashi Roe says
25th May 2015 at 12:21 pmThank you