Ikarian Longevity Cornmeal & Greens Soup

I had been hearing about the use of corn kernels and cornmeal in the Ikarian diet ever since my aunt Mary, who passed away several years ago at the age of 97, mentioned the corn-stuffed cabbage leaves she remembered as a child. This soup is an old recipe and a perfect example of the kind of filling, hearty, plant-based foods that made up the Ikaria longevity diet. Corn was an important part of the diet before the advent of rice and it was one of the major foods of sustenance. It’s also quite delicious! To find some of the artisinal Greek products you'll need to make this, visit my online shop here, where you'll discover a host of lovingly curated Greek ingredients.

RATING

SERVES

PREP TIME

10 min

COOK TIME

50 min

RECIPES

Aegean Islands

Gluten Free

Greens

Soups

Vegetables

Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Ingredients

6 cups or more water or low-salt vegetable broth
2 red onions finely chopped
2 garlic cloves peeled, crushed
1 pound Swiss chard
1 cup polenta coarse cornmeal
6 tablespoons extra virgin Greek olive oil
Coarse sea salt or Kosher salt to taste
1 cup coarsely chopped mint leaves
1 cup coarsely chopped chervil

Instructions

Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large, wide soup pot and cook the onions and garlic until wilted, about 5 minutes over medium low heat.
Add the chard to the mixture and stir until wilted.
Add 4 cups of water, bring to a boil, and in a slow steady stream add the cornmeal, stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon all the while. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Add the remaining water and simmer the soup until thick and creamy, about 30 minutes total. About 5 minutes before removing from heat, add the remaining herbs and, if necessary, additional water or broth to maintain the soup’s liquid, creamy consistency. Drizzle in remaining olive oil just before serving.