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Bowl of swiss chard soup with fennel, shrimp, and calamari, topped with lemon and green onion.

Swiss Chard Soup with Fennel

A light, cozy soup with swiss chard, fennel, and a rich bone broth base, with optional shrimp and calamari for extra flavor.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 245

Ingredients
  

  • 300 g (1 large bunch) swiss chard, stems and leaves separated
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion , finely chopped
  • 1 medium fennel bulb , thinly sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 600 ml (2½ cups) bone broth , or any broth
  • 400 ml (1⅔ cups) water
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
  • 200 g (7oz) calamari, cut into bite sized pieces (optional)
  • 200 g (7oz) shrimp, peeled and deveined (optional)
  • 1-2 tablespoon lemon juice, for serving
  • A small handful green onion tops thinly sliced, for garnish (optional)

Equipment

  • Large pot or Dutch oven
  • Cutting board
  • Ladle

Method
 

  1. Wash the swiss chard, then separate the stems from the leaves. Finely chop the stems and roughly chop the leaves, keeping them in separate piles.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
  3. Add the onion, sliced fennel and chopped swiss chard stems. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes, until the vegetables are soft but not browned.
  4. Stir in the garlic, sea salt, and black pepper. Cook for 30 to 60 seconds, until fragrant.
  5. Pour in the bone broth and water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, so the vegetables release their flavor into the broth.
  6. Stir in the swiss chard leaves. If using seafood, add the calamari and shrimp now. Cook gently, without letting the soup boil, for about 5 minutes, until the seafood is cooked through and the leaves are wilted.
  7. Serve hot with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, topped with green onion.

Notes

  • Bone broth varies in saltiness by brand, so taste before adding all the salt
  • The calamari and shrimp amounts are flexible. Use more or less depending on how seafood forward you want the soup
  • See the storage section above for fridge guidance
Nutrition
Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 130mg | Sodium: 810mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g
Nutrition information is estimated and will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands used.