Aztec Soup
Prep Time: 25 minutesCook Time: 1 hours
Total Time: 1 hours 25 minutes
Ingredients:
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3 medium onion , chopped
- 10 cloves garlic , coarsely chopped
- 2 cans (28 ounces each) tomatoes
- 2 tbsp basil
- 2 tbsp Mexican oregano
- 2 tbsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp ground black pepper
- 4 quarts water
- 2 whole chickens, cut up
- 5 bay leaves
- 2 sprigs epazote (tsp dried)
- 2 cans (8 ounces each) tomato paste
- 1 cup red pepper, cut in thin slices
- 1 cup green pepper, cut in thin slices
- 2 carrots, sliced thin
- 2 cups celery, sliced thin
- 3 cups zucchini, diced
- 3 medium potatoes
- 1 lb fresh spinach, washed, stems removed, chopped
- 2 avocados, cubed
- 1 1/2 pounds Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- corn tortillas, unsalted tortilla chips, broken into smaller pieces
- salt
Preparation:
Heat olive oil in large skillet and sauté onions and garlic over low heat until they are translucent and soft, about 8-10 minutes. Add tomatoes, basil , oregano, cumin , and black pepper , and cook over low heat, partially covered, another 10-12 minutes. Let cool, then blend in a processor until smooth. Set aside.
Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Add chicken, bay leaves, and epazote . Water should cover chicken by an inch or so. Skim off foam and fat that surface in first 5 minutes. Add reserved puree and tomato paste and cook; partially covered, with liquid at rolling simmer, for another 20 minutes. Transfer chicken to a platter. When cool enough to handle, remove skin and bones, then shred.
Add peppers, carrots, and celery to broth and cook over low heat for 5 minutes. Add zucchini and cook an additional 5 minutes. Remove vegetables from broth with slotted spoon. Salt broth to taste.
Peel and parboil potatoes. Then dice and sauté in a little olive oil until brown.
Place a scoop of vegetables and a heaping tablespoon of potatoes in a large soup bowl. Next, add tortilla strips, spinach, shredded chicken, avocado, and cheese. Pour piping-hot broth over everything and serve immediately.