Mexican Cooking ~ Tortilla Soup

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* Exported from MasterCook *

 

Tortilla Soup

 

Recipe By : Meatless Mexican Home Cooking ~ Nancy Zaslavsky

Serving Size : 1 Preparation Time :0:00

Categories : Mexican Soups

Vegetarian

 

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method

-------- ------------ --------------------------------

2 Quarts Vegetable Broth *

2 epazote sprigs (optional)

2 guajillo or ancho chiles

8 stale tortillas

2 Cups vegetable oil

1 Cup Quesillo De Oaxaca, Mozzarella, Or Jack -- Cheese 1/2

Inch Cube

1 avocado -- 1/2 Inch Cubes

1 Cup Crema* Creme Fraiche Or -- Sour Cream

1/2 Cup chopped cilantro

2 limes quartered

 

Bring the broth to a low simmer with the optional epazote. Taste for seasoning

and, if necessary, add salt and pepper.

 

Remove the chile stems, seeds and veins. Cut the chiles into 1-inch strips about

a 1/4 inch wide.

 

Stack the tortillas and cut in half with a large knife. Cute each pile into 1/4

inch strips.

 

Heat the oil to hot nd fry the chile strips just until they change color and

darken. Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on absorbent paper

towels. Fry the tortilla strips, a handful at a time, until they are golden.

Drain on paper towels.

 

Ladle broth into bowls. Add a few chile strips, some cheese cubes, avocado

cubes, and crema. Sprinkle with cilantro. Top with a pile of tortilla strips.

Pass lime wedges with any remaining garnishes, because fresh lime juice makes

the soup come to life.

 

* Crema recipe entered separately

* Broth recipe entered separately

 

 

 

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NOTES : What makes tortilla soup so special are the thin strips of greshly fried

tortillas piled on top of hot broth. tortilla Soupl, a textural masterpiece,

changes its consistency depending on how fast you slurp your soup: At first the

warm tortilla strips are crisp, but as they begin to absorb liquid, they take on

a chewy texture. Finally, if you're doing more talking than eating, the

tortillas dissolve into the liquid and thicken the broth. Added textural

interest in supplied by buttery cubes of diced avocado. Pieces of soft cheese

melt and become stringy, and a dollop of smooth, Crema, creme fraiche, or sour

cream gilds the lily. Yield 6 servings.