Chilled Chayote Soup With Cilantro Crema Fresca Food

CHAYOTE SOUP

Steps:

• Dissolve the bouillon in the hot water.
• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir the onion, garlic, and red pepper in the butter until the onion is soft. Add the squash, 2 tablespoons cilantro, salt, and pepper and stir continually for 5 minutes. Stir in the bouillon mixture and 1 tablespoon cilantro; cover. Simmer about 20 minutes.
• Pour the mixture into a blender and puree until smooth. Pour into bowls and garnish with a sprig of cilantro to serve.

AGUA FRESCA DE PEPINO: COLD CUCUMBER DRINK

Steps:

• Put 1/2 cup of water in a blender container with 1 cup of sliced cucumber. Blend. Add more cucumber and blend. Continue until all the cucumbers are pureed.
• Strain the cucumber juice of its seeds into a very large pitcher. Add the remaining water, lime juice, and sugar, to taste. Chill before serving.

CREAMED CHAYOTE SOUP

Steps:

• Cook whole bacon strips slowly over low heat in a large soup pot until almost all fat is rendered out, or omit bacon and melt butter. Add diced onion, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add chicken stock, bay leaves and potato and simmer 20 minutes or until potato slices are soft. Meanwhile, finely chop chayote in a food processor.
• Remove and discard bay leaves and bacon and add chopped chayote. Bring to a boil, return to a simmer, and cook, uncovered, until the chayote is soft, about 15 minutes.
• Puree in a blender until smooth. Strain back into pot, pressing with a ladle to extract all juices. Add cream or half and half. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Serve immediately with lime wedges.

CALABAZA SOUP WITH CINNAMON CREME FRAICHE: SOPA DE CALABAZA CON CANELA CREMA FRESCA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a small saute pan toast the cumin, coriander, chile, and clove for 3 minutes over medium heat. When the spices have begun to release their aroma, add them to a large mixing bowl with the panela and olive oil, mix well with a whisk to break up any clumps of spices.
• Add the diced and peeled calabaza and mix well to coat. Pour the calabaza onto a large sheet tray and place in the oven to roast until the calabaza has softened and caramelized, about 30 minutes.
• While the calabaza is in the oven, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saucepan, when the oil begins to smoke add the onion and garlic and saute for around 5 minutes.
• When the onion has become translucent add the calabaza and chicken stock and cook at a gentle simmer for 15 minutes, puree the mixture with a hand held blender, add the heavy cream, and simmer for another 5 minutes, season with salt and pepper and reserve in a warm place.
• In a small bowl combine the creme fraiche and canela and mix well. To serve, ladle the soup into a large bowl and finish with a dollop of the canela-creme fraiche.