Traditional Vegetarian Aztec Soup Food

AZTEC SOUP

Steps:

• To make Aztec Soup: In a large pot, heat the extra-virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute for 2 minutes, until golden. Throw in the minced chipotles, red onion, cumin, smoked cayenne, smoked paprika, sea salt, freshly ground pepper and saute for 8 minutes. Deglaze the pot with chicken broth and add the tomatoes, Greek oregano, chicken meat and the sprig of epazote. Stir. Partially cover pot and simmer soup for about 40 minutes.
• Boil some salted water in a separate pot. Throw in the wild rice and simmer for 40 minutes. Strain.
• Heat a grill pan on medium-high heat. Brush some canola oil on the ears of corn. Grill the corn for a few seconds on all sides until marked. Slice off the corn niblets. Add the corn, wild rice, and cooked black beans to the soup. Season the soup with brown sugar, sea salt, freshly ground pepper and coriander (cilantro) to taste.
• Serve this soup with a dollop of creme fraiche, crispy tortillas and a squirt of fresh lime juice.
• To make 'Liquid Gold' Chicken Broth: Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the crushed garlic cloves and saute for 2 minutes, until garlic is golden. Add the onions, carrots, and celery. Season the vegetables with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Saute for about 8 minutes. Cut the organic chicken and chicken bones into pieces. Really hack into it so that the bones and marrow are exposed. Add the chicken pieces and pint of chicken bones to the pot. Fill the pot with water until it just covers all the chicken, and bring to a boil.
• Tie the parsley, celery leaves, bay leaf, thyme, and tarragon into a bouquet using butcher's twine or kitchen twine. Add the bouquet to the pot along with the black peppercorns.
• Once the broth has begun to boil, bring the heat down to medium-low. Partially cover, and let the broth simmer for 2 to 3 hours.
• Strain the chicken broth through cheesecloth. Hand-pick the good chicken meat and set it aside.
• Refrigerate the broth overnight. Slip a sharp knife around the edges of solidified chicken fat and discard.

TRADITIONAL VEGETARIAN AZTEC SOUP

Steps:

• Brown garlic, onion and tomato with margarine in a stock pot.
• Add tomato sauce, vegetable stock, chiles, pepper, sugar and taco sauce. Simmer for 1 hour.
• To assemble soup put a handful of tortilla strips in a large open soup bowl, top with 4 or 5 thin avacado wedges, chopped fresh onion and Mexican ranch style crumbly cheese (or Cheddar). Ladle in hot soup and top with a spoonful of sour cream.
• Serves a big hungry family!

SOPA AZTECA

Steps:

• Put oil in a large skillet. Add onions and garlic; sautee until onions are translucent and soft, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes, oregano, basil, cumin and black pepper. Cook until tomatoes are soft, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Blend mixture in blender until smooth. Set aside.
• Bring the water to a boil in large pot. Add chicken, bay leaf and epazote. Skim off fat and foam. Add puree and tomato paste, and cook until chicken is tender, about 20 minutes. Remove chicken. Skin, shred and set aside.
• Add bell pepper, celery, zucchini and carrot to broth and cook about 10 minutes, until crisp but tender. Remove vegetables from broth, so as not to overcook. Salt broth to taste.
• To serve, place vegetables and potato in a large soup bowl. Add, in order, tortilla strips, spinach (around the top), shredded chicken, cubed avocado and cheese. Pour hot broth into soup bowl and serve. Each bowl must be prepared as described to distribute vegetables and tortillas evenly.

AZTEC SOUP (SOPA AZTECA)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a large pot, heat the oil and saute the garlic for 30 seconds.
• Add the tomato paste, the tomatoes (including liquid) and the chili powder and cook for 5 minutes, until the liquid has evaporated.
• Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Separately, place the tortilla strips on a baking sheet and spray with PAM (or similar). Bake for 8 minutes or until crisp and golden, turning halfway through.
• Divide the shredded chicken among individual serving bowls. Ladle soup mixture over it.
• Garnish with the toasted tortilla strips, avocado chunks, cheese and cilantro. Serve while still hot.
• OPTIONAL: Yum! Add a good dollop of Mexican Crema or sour cream.

AZTECA SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in large skillet and carefully drop in half the tortilla strips. Fry in batches until golden brown and crunchy. Place fried tortilla strips on a paper towel-lined plate and pat dry. Sprinkle salt on tortillas, tossing to coat both sides.
• Using a blender or food processor, blend tomatoes, onion and cilantro until completely pureed.
• In a saucepan, heat chicken broth, chipotle chili, and pureed vegetables. Bring to a boil; remove from heat. Ladle soup into serving bowls. Prior to serving, add tortilla strips and avocado. Buen provecho!