Calabacitas Soup Food

CREAM OF ZUCCHINI SOUP

Steps:

• Place chopped zucchini or squash in a skillet, add one cup of water, and cover. Turn heat to medium-high; once it starts boiling, reduce heat to low. Keep cooking until zucchini or squash is tender, but not overcook. It should look firm and still have a bright color. This step will take about 8 minutes total.
• While the vegetables are cooking, heat butter and oil in a medium-size saucepan over medium heat until butter is melting. Add the onion and garlic and cook until transparent, about 2 minutes.
• Add flour and stir until flour has a light golden color. Pour milk and chicken broth into the saucepan and stir to dissolve the flour mixture, about one minute.
• Remove zucchini/squash from skillet and drain any liquid left. Place into a blender with the milk combination. Process until you have a fine mixture.
• Pour this mixture into the saucepan and turn the heat to medium. Keep cooking, stirring from time to time. Let it simmer on a warm heat setting for about 6-8 minutes until soup starts to thicken. Season with salt and pepper.

CALABACITAS SOUP

Steps:

• Give the tomatoes a good rinse and roast them in the oven at 400F for 20 minutes or so. I usually de-stem them knowing that any juices leftover in the roasting pan will go in the blender.
• Saute a roughly chopped onion and 3 whole, peeled garlic cloves in a glug of oil over medium heat. When the onion starts to turn brown (approx. 6-8 minutes) add the mixture to a blender or food processor along with the roasted tomatoes and 1/4 or 1/2 of the jalapeno. Combine well and taste for heat, adding more jalapeno for more heat. I like this dish best with only mild heat so I used only 1/2 of the jalapeno.
• Finely chop 1/2 onion and get it cooking in some oil over medium heat.
• As the onion cooks you can prep the zucchini. Give the zucchinis a good rinse and cut them up into 1/4" sized pieces -- be sure to cut off the ends and discard.
• When the onion starts to brown add two minced garlic cloves and cook for 30-60 seconds. Add the chopped zucchini to the onion-garlic mixture in the pan, along with 1 teaspoon salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and 2 teaspoons Mexican oregano. Stir well and let it saute briefly.
• Add the tomato mixture from the blender to the pan. I usually let this cook for a couple minutes, then adding in 5 cups of stock along with 2 cups of corn. Note: I used a single can of corn, drained and rinsed, but if using fresh corn you can add it in when you add the zucchini.
• Bring this up to a simmer and take a final taste for seasoning. I added another generous pinch of salt to this batch, so that is close to 1.5 teaspoons total for this batch, but keep in mind this will vary based on which stock you're using.
• Serve immediately with your choice of fixings. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

SWEET AND SPICY SWEET POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat; cook and stir shallots in the hot oil until soft, about 3 minutes. Stir apples, ginger, zest from 1 lime, red pepper flakes, and cayenne pepper into the pot. Reserve lime juice. Cook and stir mixture until apples are very soft, about 15 minutes.
• Pour chicken broth into pot; add sweet potatoes and salt. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Puree soup with an immersion blender until smooth. Stir reserved lime juice into soup. Garnish with lime wedges to serve.

CALABACITAS

Steps:

• Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, bell pepper, onion, and zucchini, and cook until the zucchini begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the salt, pepper, half and half, and corn. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and sprinkle Monterey Jack cheese over top. Replace the cover on the skillet and allow to sit until the cheese melts, 2 to 3 minutes.

CALABACITAS CHEESE SOUP

Steps:

• Saute onion and garlic in 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• Add oregano, chicken broth and tomatoes.
• Cover and bring to a boil.
• Stir in squash, corn and green chilies.
• Return to boil and simmer till squash is tender.
• Stir in Velveeta, salt, pepper and cilantro.

CALABAZA SOUP: SOPA DE CALABAZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Drizzle a little bit of olive oil over the calabaza. Season with salt and pepper, and roast in the oven until tender, about 1/2 hour.
• In a large stockpot, heat 1/4 cup olive oil and saute onions, green pepper, red pepper, and garlic. Cook for about 8 minutes or until caramelized. Add the tomatoes and cook for 3 more minutes.
• Deglaze with white wine. Add chicken stock and heavy cream and the roasted calabaza. Add the thyme. Bring to a boil. Simmer about 20 minutes. Puree all the ingredients. Strain the soup and adjust the seasonings. Garnish with vanilla-flavored whipped cream, if desired.

CALABACITAS

Steps:

• Saute the onion in oil.
• Add the squash and chilies.
• Mix and cook, covered, for 20 minutes.
• Add the corn and seasonings and cook 5 minutes longer.
• Add the milk and cheese, stirring constantly to prevent sticking until cheese melts.

CREAM OF ZUCCHINI SOUP (CREMA DE CALABACITAS)

Steps:

• Wash zucchini. Cut off stem ends, then cut into large pieces. Place in a saucepan. Add water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Cool zucchini in cooking liquid.
• Place zucchini, 1 cup cooking liquid and 2 Tablespoons cilantro in a blender; process until pureed.
• Heat butter in a medium saucepan. Add onion. Cook until tender but not browned. Stir in flour. Cook 1 minute. Add pureed zucchini mixture, evaporated milk and chicken broth. Stir to blend. Season with salt if needed. Stir over medium heat until soup comes to a boil.
• Serve at once or chill and serve cold. Garnish each serving with a few whole cilantro leaves.