Smoky Collard Green & Potato Soup

By Dani Potts | October 22, 2025

Total Time: 50 minutes, Servings 5-7

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 medium carrots, sliced
  • 1 celery stalk, chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 medium bunch collard greens, (about 1 pound) stems removed and leaves chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 medium red or white potatoes, chopped (½ to 1 inch)
  • 1 15.5 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Optional: Fresh chives 

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Coat the bottom of a large pot with the olive oil and place it over medium heat. Allow oil  to heat up, then add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook veggies for about ten minutes, until they begin to soften.
  2. Stir in the garlic and cook it with the veggies until it becomes very fragrant, about one minute.
  3. Stir in the broth, collard greens, potatoes, kidney beans, thyme, oregano, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Raise the heat and bring the soup to a boil.
  4. Lower the heat so that the soup is just cooking at a low simmer. Let it cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the greens are tender and have become less vibrant in color, and the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork.
  5. Remove the pot from heat. Stir in the red wine vinegar, then season the soup with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Serve and enjoy!

Inspired by: https://www.connoisseurusveg.com/collard-greens-soup/#recipe

BENEFITS

Collard greens are a nutrient-dense leafy green vegetable that offers a multitude of health benefits. It is high in vitamin K, which is crucial for blood clotting and bone health, as just 2 cups of raw collards contains roughly 128% of the daily value! It also contains a solid amount of vitamins A & C, folate, calcium, and antioxidants like phenols, polyphenols, and alpha-lipoic acid to help combat free radicals in the body and reduce oxidative stress. This leafy green is quite versatile as it can be used in soups, stews, stir-fry, wraps, salads, smoothies, and more!