Sopa Seca Dry Soup Food

VERMICELLI SOUP

Steps:

• Using a large saute pan, fry vermicelli in vegetable oil till golden brown.
• In a food processor or blender, blend the water, onion, tomatoes, garlic and salt. Strain.
• Pour blended mixture over the vermicelli and allow to simmer till all the liquid has been evaporated or absorbed.

SOPA SECA DE TORTILLA CON CREMA (MEXICAN DRY SOUP)

Steps:

• Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a non-stick fry pan. Saute onion + garlic till soft & stir in chopped tomato.
• Cook tomato till thick, then stir in oregano & sugar. Season to taste & set aside in a bowl.
• Wipe the pan clean w/paper towels, heat the remaining oil in the pan & fry the tortillas without allowing them to brown. Drain fried tortilla strips on paper towels.
• Pour a layer of the tomato sauce into a greased flameproof casserole. Add a layer of tortilla strips, a thin layer of cream, another layer of sauce & a layer of grated cheese. Continue till all ingredients have been used, ending w/a layer of cheese.
• Cover casserole & heat through gently on the stovetop ~ or heat through for about 20 min in an oven preheated to 180C (350F).
• *Cooks Tip* ~ Be sure to use corn tortillas for this recipe. If only lrg ones are available, use 8.
• *Personal Note* ~ Altho not a part of the recipe or its authentic intent, I can easily see this dish 1) Converted to a main-course w/the addition of seasoned grd meat or chorizo to the sauce *or* 2) Combined w/a salad to form a meatless main-dish.

SOPA SECA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or medium pot over medium-high heat until it ripples. Add the pasta and cook, stirring constantly, until the pasta is golden, about 3 minutes.
• Scoop out and discard 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add the Roasted Tomato-Chile Arbol Salsa and cook for 2 minutes, stirring the whole time. Pour in the chicken stock and let the liquid come to a simmer. Cover the pot and cook, stirring once in a while, until the liquid is absorbed and the pasta is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Divide the pasta between two bowls and garnish with the cilantro and cheese.

SHRIMP SOPA SECA

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Toss the tomatoes, white onion, garlic and 1 tablespoon olive oil on a baking sheet; spread out evenly. Broil until the onion and garlic are slightly charred and softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer the onion and garlic to a blender and flip over the tomatoes on the baking sheet. Continue broiling the tomatoes until the skins shrink and char, 5 to 7 more minutes.
• Add the tomatoes to the blender, along with any juices left on the baking sheet; process until chunky but well combined. Add the cilantro and puree. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, then add the fideos. Cook, stirring, until golden, 5 to 7 minutes; remove to a plate. Reserve the pot.
• Pour the blended tomato sauce into the pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer over medium-low heat until slightly reduced, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in the ancho chile powder, coriander, chili powder and 2 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil.
• Return the fideos to the pot. Adjust the heat so the liquid simmers; cook, stirring, until the fideos are almost al dente, 13 to 15 minutes. Add the shrimp, cover and cook until the fideos and shrimp are cooked through, 5 to 7 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Divide among bowls. Top with crema and cilantro.

TORTILLA "DRY SOUP" CASSEROLE ( SOPA SECA DE TORTILLA

Steps:

• In a wide frying pan, over medium heat, cook onion in oil until limp; add chiles and cream, and tomatoe puree. Simme for 10 minutes. Add salt, to taste.
• Grease a 2-qt. baking dish and cover the bottom with half of the tortilla chips. Pour half the sauce and half of the shredded cheese. Repeat layers, ending with the cheese. Dot with butter and bake, uncovered, in a 350°F oven for 30 minutes or until hot through.

MEXICAN-STYLE RICE (SOPA SECA)

Steps:

• In a large heatproof bowl, pour boiling water over the rice enough to cover. Stir only once, and let stand 10 minutes.
• Transfer to a colander over the sink and rinse rice under cold water. Drain again. Set rice aside, spread out on a cookie sheet to dry slightly. (I usually do this first thing in the morning.).
• In the meantime, put the tomatoes, onion, garlic and half of chili pepper into a food processor or blender. Process until smooth like salsa. Set tomato mixture aside.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy saute pan and cook rice until a light golden brown color. Stir constantly so that rice does not burn, scraping bottom of pan with spatula because the rice grains will stick.
• Next add the pureed tomato mixture and keep stirring over medium heat until all the liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes. If mixture starts to boil, reduce heat. *Stir in the stock, salt, and green peas. Continue to cook the mixture on low-medium heat stirring occasionally until all liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, another 10-15 minutes. Be careful not to burn.
• *NOTE: DO NOT stir rice too often after adding the stock or the grains will become too starchy.
• The original directions say to remove pan from heat, cover with tight-fitting lid; letting stand in a warm place 10 minutes or so. I remove pan from heat, cover and place pan in low oven, at approximately 150-200 degrees. Sometimes I'll let the rice set in the oven for a good hour or longer, as long as the rice grains are tender and rice doesn't dry out too much.
• Transfer the cooked rice to a serving platter, fluff with fork and serve sprinkled with freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with thinly sliced chilis or serve on side.

"DRY" MEXICAN NOODLE SOUP (SOPA SECA DE FIDEOS)

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add noodles; fry until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Add onion and garlic to the skillet. Cook and stir until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add tomato puree and bay leaves; cook until heated through, about 3 minutes.
• Pour tomato mixture carefully into a blender; add water. Cover and hold lid down with a potholder; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend. Pour back into the skillet; add bouillon and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and add the fried noodles. Cook until the noodles are tender and have absorbed most of the tomato sauce, about 15 minutes more.