Soups & Stews

Spring Onion and Tomato Soup with Melty Cheese

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Spring Onion and Tomato Soup with Melty Cheese
Print Recipe
4 from 5 votes

Spring Onion and Tomato Soup with Melty Cheese

Think of this soup as a cross between a rich, creamy tomato soup and an onion soup. Oh, and did I mention lots of melty cheese?
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: soup
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 30 spring onions or 60 scallions (about 8 bunches), white and light green parts only, thinly sliced (about 8 cups; reserve 1 cup of light green parts for garnish)
  • 3 garlic cloves finely chopped
  • 1¼ teaspoons kosher salt or more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 pounds ripe tomatoes coarsely pureed in a blender or food processor, or 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 3½ cups chicken broth
  • ½ cup crema or heavy cream
  • 2 cups grated melting cheese such as asadero, Oaxaca, Monterey Jack, or mozzarella (8 ounces)

Instructions

  • Heat the butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium heat until the butter is bubbling. Add the spring onions or scallions and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until completely softened. Clear a space in the middle of the pot, add the garlic, and cook for a minute or two, until fragrant. Add 1 teaspoon of the salt and the pepper and stir well.
  • Stir in the tomatoes and cook for 9 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they have cooked down and darkened in color.
  • Add the chicken broth, stir well, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the cream and cook at a gentle simmer for another 5 minutes. Add the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, or more to taste, then add the cheese and stir so that it melts into the soup. Ladle the soup into bowls, garnish with the reserved spring onions or scallions, and serve.

Notes

Sopa de Cebollitas con Queso

Hominy and Pinto Bean Stew

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Hominy and Pinto Bean Stew
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Hominy and Pinto Bean Stew

Hominy and Pinto Bean Stew recipe from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 13, Episode 9 “Hidden Guachochi”
Cook Time1 hour 45 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: beans, Corn, pozole, Salsa, soup
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • ½ pound dried hominy, giant white corn, or maiz mote pelado or use 3 15oz. cans hominy, drained and rinsed
  • 5 large garlic cloves if using dried hominy
  • 4 teaspoons kosher or coarse sea salt divided (if using dried hominy and beans), or to taste
  • 1 pound dried pinto beans rinsed, or use 4 15oz. cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained
  • ½ of a white onion if using dried pinto beans
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or lard
  • 6 to 8 scallions or small spring onions white parts finely chopped, and light green parts thinly sliced and separated
  • 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth or water if using canned hominy and beans
  • 2 jalapeños stemmed and halved vertically
  • Chopped cilantro for garnish
  • Queso fresco crumbled into big pieces
  • Salsa Roja with Oregano and Chile de Árbol

Instructions

  • Place dried hominy in a bowl and pour in boiling hot water to generously cover. Let soak anywhere from 2-3 hours.
  • Drain, place in a large pot, add 12-14 cups water and 5 large garlic cloves. Bring to a rolling boil, reduce the heat to medium, cover partially so steam can escape, and cook for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, just until the hominy softens and it is barely attempting to open or bloom. It should still be firm and toothy and sweet. Turn off the heat, add 2 teaspoons of salt and stir. Fish out the cooked garlic and discard. (Skip this step if using canned hominy.)
  • Place dried pinto beans in a large pot, cover with the water, and add the white onion half. Bring to a rolling boil, reduce heat to medium, and cover partially so steam can escape. Cook for about 1 hour until the beans are tender, but still slightly firm and not breaking or falling apart. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of salt and stir. Fish out the cooked onion and discard. (Skip this step if using canned beans.)
  • In a large pot set over medium heat, add oil. Once hot add the chopped white parts of the scallions. Cook until wilted and barely starting to brown around the edges, about 3-4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, add all the cooked pintos, and add about 3 cups of their cooking liquid using a ladle or measuring cup. Alternatively, add the 4 cans of beans. Using a slotted spoon, incorporate all the cooked hominy, and add about 3 cups of their cooking liquid using a ladle or measuring cup. Alternatively, add the 3 cans of hominy, along with 3 cups of broth or water.
  • Raise heat to medium-high and incorporate the sliced jalapeños. Let it all come to a simmer and cook for another 12-14 minutes, until the broth has thickened and become soupy, and the chiles have cooked. Taste for salt and adjust if needed. Turn off heat.
  • Serve and let your guests garnish their bowls with abundant chopped cilantro, the scallion greens, queso fresco, and Tomato Salsa with Oregano and Chile de Árbol.

Notes

Muni-Pozole

Chihuahua-Style Potato Soup

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Chihuahua-Style Potato Soup
Print Recipe
4.15 from 7 votes

Chihuahua-Style Potato Soup

Chihuahua-Style Potato Soup (Caldo de Papa) recipe from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 13, Episode 8 “Chihuahua’s Cheesiest Cheese”
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: cheese, chile verde, Potato
Servings: 5 to 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh chiles verdes such as chilaca, Anaheim, California, New Mexico or Hatch
  • 1 pound ripe plum tomatoes
  • 2 garlic cloves peeled
  • 1 dried morita or chipotle chile stemmed and seeded
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • ½ of a white onion thinly sliced
  • 2 pounds Yukon Gold, baby golden or russet potatoes peeled and cut into ½-inch dice
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 8 ounces Mennonite, Chihuahua or Monterey Jack cheese cut into small dice (about 1 cup), or more to taste

Instructions

  • Put the chiles verdes on a small baking sheet and place under the broiler, about 2-inches from the heat source, for about 12 minutes, flipping in between, until the chiles have softened and their skin is completely charred and blistered. Alternatively, you can char them on a preheated comal or skillet over medium heat, turning often to char on all sides.
  • Place the charred chiles in a sealed plastic bag or covered bowl and let them sweat for about 10 minutes. Peel off their skin, then make a slit in their side and remove the seeds and stem. You may do this under a thin stream of water, or use a bowl of water, to make it easier. Pat the chiles dry and slice into strips of about ½ inch by 1½ inches.
  • Place the tomatoes, garlic and morita chile in a medium saucepan, cover with water, and set over medium-high heat. Let it come to a boil and then simmer for about 10 minutes, until the tomatoes are completely cooked through, the chile has rehydrated, and the garlic has softened.
  • Using a slotted spoon, transfer the tomatoes, garlic and morita chile to a blender along with 1 cup of the cooking liquid, oregano, salt and pepper. Puree until completely smooth. Set aside.
  • Heat the oil and butter in a large soup pot or casserole over medium heat. Once the butter melts and starts to bubble, add the onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add the potatoes, stir to coat with the oil, and pour in the tomato puree. Once it comes to a simmer, stir and cook at a medium simmer for 10-12 minutes. The tomato puree should have thickened, seasoned and darkened.
  • Incorporate the chicken broth along with the fire-roasted chile verde strips, stir, and once it comes back to a medium simmer, cook for another 10 minutes. Taste for salt and adjust if needed. Serve piping hot with a handful of diced cheese in every bowl.

Notes

Caldo de Papa de Chihuahua

Chihuahua-Style Charro Beans

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Chihuahua-Style Charro Beans
Print Recipe
4.75 from 4 votes

Chihuahua-Style Charro Beans

Chihuahua-Style Charro Beans recipe from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 13, Episode 6 “Paquimé & Pecans”
Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: beans, jalapeno, pork
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dried pinto beans or 3 15oz. cans pinto beans
  • 3½ quarts (14 cups) water if using dried beans
  • 1 white onion half left whole (if using dried beans), half finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons kosher or coarse sea salt
  • ½ pound (about 5 to 6 slices) thick-cut, wood-smoked bacon chopped
  • ½ pound Mexican chorizo casings removed and chopped
  • ¼ pound turkey hot dogs halved and sliced
  • ¼ pound thick-sliced deli ham diced
  • 4 to 6 whole pickled jalapeños
  • ½ cup brine from pickled jalapeños
  • 2 ounces chicharrones or pork rinds broken into bite-sized pieces
  • Warm corn or flour tortillas

Instructions

  • Rinse the dried beans and put them in a large pot, cover with the water, and add the white onion half. Bring to a rolling boil, reduce the heat to medium, and partially cover with a lid so steam can escape. Simmer until the beans are completely tender, 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, depending on the size and age of the beans. Stir in the salt and fish out the onion and discard. If using canned beans, skip this step.
  • In a large casserole or pot, set over medium-high heat, cook the bacon and chorizo for 4-5 minutes, until they start releasing their fat and have begun to brown. Add the hot dogs and ham, stir, and continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes; they should be coated in the fat and gain some color. Incorporate the chopped onion, stir, and cook until softened, for about 3-4 minutes.
  • Incorporate all of the beans with their broth (if using canned, add water or broth as needed to make the dish soupy). Bring to a simmer, add the jalapeños and their brine, and continue cooking for 3-4 minutes more. Lastly, add the broken chicharrón pieces, stir and serve with warm corn or flour tortillas.

Notes

Frijoles Charros estilo Chihuahua

Fire-Roasted Tomato Cracked Corn and Cheese

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Fire-Roasted Tomato Cracked Corn and Cheese
Print Recipe
4.80 from 5 votes

Fire-Roasted Tomato Cracked Corn and Cheese

Fire-Roasted Tomato Cracked Corn and Cheese (Chacales) recipe from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 13, Episode 2 “Canyon Cuisine”
Cook Time1 hour
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: cheese, Corn, Tomato
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dried golden or white cracked hominy corn maiz trillado amarillo o blanco
  • 10 cups water
  • 1 white onion halved, divided
  • 3 unpeeled garlic cloves plus 1 peeled
  • 1¾ teaspoons kosher or coarse sea salt divided, plus more to taste
  • 1½ pounds ripe plum tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or lard
  • 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth or water, optional
  • ½ pound (about 2 cups) diced Mennonite or Chihuahua cheese or Asadero, quesadilla, Monterey Jack or Muenster cheese, or more to taste
  • ½ cup chopped cilantro leaves and upper stems
  • Crushed chiltepin chiles to taste, optional

Instructions

  • Rinse the cracked corn thoroughly under warm water. Drain.
  • In a large soup or stock pot, bring the 10 cups water to a boil over high heat, along with half of the onion, the peeled garlic clove and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Then stir in the cracked corn, and once it returns to a boil, reduce heat to medium, cover partially and let simmer for 30-35 minutes, until the corn has softened but still has a toothy bite. Discard the onion and garlic and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, quarter the remaining onion half and place it on a baking sheet along with the tomatoes and unpeeled garlic cloves. Place under the broiler for about 10 to 12 minutes, flipping in between, until the ingredients are charred and the tomatoes are juicy and wrinkled. Alternatively, you can char them on a comal or skillet over medium heat, flipping frequently.
  • Once cool enough to handle, peel and finely chop the garlic, and chop the onion and tomatoes without discarding any juices, skin or seeds.
  • In a large pot or casserole, heat the oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the chopped garlic, onion, and tomatoes and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Incorporate the cooked cracked corn and its broth, along with the cup broth if adding, and the remaining ¾ teaspoon salt. Stir and let cook for another 7-8 minutes. Serve in bowls with diced cheese, top with fresh cilantro, and sprinkled on crushed chiltepin if desired.

Notes

Chacales con Jitomate Rostizado y Queso

Creamy Chipotle Chicken

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Creamy Chipotle Chicken
Print Recipe
5 from 5 votes

Creamy Chipotle Chicken

Creamy Chipotle Chicken recipe from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 13, Episode 2 “Canyon Cuisine”
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken, Chipotle
Servings: 5 to 6 cups
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 white onion halved, half left whole, half thinly sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves peeled
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1¼ teaspoons kosher or coarse sea salt divided
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 pound ripe plum tomatoes
  • 3 to 4 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce seeded, plus 3 to 4 tablespoons of the adobo sauce
  • ½ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 cup Mexican crema crème fraîche, or heavy cream
  • 1 batch Red Gorditas if serving in gorditas

Instructions

  • Put the chicken breasts, whole onion half, garlic cloves, bay leaves, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and 3 cups water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 10 minutes.
  • Add the tomatoes, cover again, and cook for 10 minutes more, until the tomatoes are completely cooked, mushy and the skins start to break apart. Remove the chicken breasts and transfer to a bowl.
  • With a slotted spoon, transfer the tomatoes, garlic, onion, bay leaves and ½ cup of the cooking liquid (that the chicken cooked in) to a blender. Add the chipotle chiles and the adobo sauce, the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, and the pepper, and puree until smooth. Set aside.
  • Once the chicken has cooled enough to handle, finely shred with your hands or two forks. You should have about 5-6 cups.
  • Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet or casserole over medium-high heat. Once the butter has melted, add the sliced onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until softened. Stir in the chicken and pureed tomato mixture, mix well, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes, until it darkens and thickens. Reduce the heat to low and slowly stir in the cream. Once incorporated, increase heat to medium-low and continue cooking for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce will have thickened further.
  • Remove from heat and serve as a filling for Red Gorditas, tacos, tortas, or eat as is with a side of rice, or beans, or both.

Notes

Pollo Enchipotlado

Chaya Soup

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Chaya Soup
Print Recipe
3.84 from 6 votes

Chaya Soup

Chaya Soup recipe from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 12, Episode 8 “Maya Today”
Cook Time20 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: habanero, pumpkin seeds, soup
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup raw hulled pumpkin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt divided, or to taste
  • 1 fresh habanero
  • Juice of one sweet lime or a combination of lemon and lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped white onion
  • 1 xcatic, güero, banana, or jalapeño chile stemmed, seeded and finely chopped
  • 2 liters (8 cups) chicken broth
  • 4 cups chaya leaves torn into pieces, can sub for chard, spinach or watercress, or a mix
  • Fresh Herb Corn Tortillas or quesadillas

Instructions

  • In a small saute pan or comal, set over medium-low heat, toast the pepitas for 3 to 4 minutes, until they are lightly toasted. Don’t let them brown or burn. Remove from the heat. Once they cool down, either finely chop or coarsely grind them in a spice mill or food processor along with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Scrape into a bowl. Set aside.
  • Toast or char the habanero chile on a preheated comal set over medium heat, or under the broiler, 6 to 8 minutes, flipping as necessary. Remove from the heat, stem, seed and finely chop. Place in a small bowl, add the sweet lime juice and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and mix. Set aside.
  • Heat the oil in a soup pot or large casserole over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion and xcatic chile and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until softened. Raise the heat to medium high, pour in the chicken broth, and once it comes to a boil, add the chaya leaves. Cook for a couple minutes, just until they wilt. Taste and add salt to taste.
  • Serve in bowls and let your guests add the ground pepitas, habanero in sweet lime juice, and salt to taste. Eat chasing, dunking, or adding pieces of the fresh herb corn tortillas (or quesadillas).

Notes

Sopa de Chaya

Pea Soup with Basil and Mint Crema

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Pea Soup with Basil and Mint Crema
Print Recipe
4.60 from 5 votes

Pea Soup with Basil and Mint Crema

Pea Soup with Basil and Mint Crema recipe from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 12, Episode 3 “Flavors of Merida”
Cook Time20 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: mexican crema, peas, soup
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped white onion
  • 2 cups thinly sliced leeks white and light green parts only
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 4 cups fresh peas or thawed from frozen
  • 1 cup fresh mint leaves packed, reserve 1/4 cup finely chopped for cream garnish
  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves packed, reserve 1/4 cup finely chopped for cream garnish
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt plus 1/4 teaspoon for garnish cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper plus 1/4 teaspoon for garnish cream
  • 1 cup Mexican crema or creme fraiche
  • Donde crackers or soup crackers

Instructions

  • In a large soup pot set over medium heat, heat the butter and oil. Once the butter bubbles and melts, add the onion and leek, and cook stirring occasionally for 10 minutes, until completely wilted.
  • Pour in the chicken broth, raise heat to medium high and let it come to a simmer. Once it does, add the peas, 3/4 cup of the mint, 3/4 cup of the basil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir and cook for 3 to 4 more minutes. Turn off heat.
  • Transfer the mixture to a blender, in batches, and puree until completely smooth. Return to the soup pot.
  • Make the basil and mint cream in a small bowl by combining the Mexican crema with the reserved 1/4 cup each of finely chopped basil and mint. Season with 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and black pepper, or to taste.
  • When ready to eat, heat the soup until it is simmering. Serve garnished with the basil and mint crema and crackers.

Notes

Sopa de Chícharos con Crema de Albahaca y Menta

Orange and Piloncillo Adobo Pork Roast

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Orange and Piloncillo Adobo Pork Roast
Print Recipe
4.17 from 6 votes

Orange and Piloncillo Adobo Pork Roast

Cook Time5 hours
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: adobo, pork
Servings: 10 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 10-pound pork picnic shoulder bone in, with skin and fat on
  • 8 guajillo chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 6 ounces piloncillo
  • 2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice
  • ¼ white onion coarsely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 8 whole cloves stems discarded
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
  • ½ teaspoon whole allspice
  • ½ teaspoon whole black peppercorns
  • 1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt
  • 2 dried bay leaves

Instructions

  • To make the adobo sauce, on a preheated comal set over medium-low heat, toast the guajillos for about a minute per side. Place them in a medium saucepan, cover with water, bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until chiles plump up and rehydrate. Set aside.
  • In a small saucepan, place the piloncillo and pour a cup of water over it. Set it over low heat, cover and let it simmer 6 to 8 minutes until the piloncillo has completely dissolved into the water creating a syrup. Set aside.
  • In the jar of a blender, add the chiles along with 2 cups of their cooking liquid, orange juice, piloncillo syrup, onion, garlic, stemmed whole cloves, oregano, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, allspice, black peppercorns, and salt. Puree until completely smooth.
  • Preheat oven to 450℉ and place a rack in the lowest part of the oven.
  • With a very sharp knife, score through the skin and fat of the pork shoulder, but not into the meat, in a diamond pattern. Place in a large dutch oven or braiser, with the skin side up. Cover with the adobo sauce, making sure there is sauce under the meat as well. Toss in the bay leaves.
  • Roast in the oven uncovered for 1 hour. Then remove from the oven, flip the pork skin side down, and cover with a lid. Reduce the oven temperature to 350℉, return the pork to the oven, and cook for 2 more hours. Remove from the oven, flip the pork again so it’s back to skin side up. Cover with the lid and return it to the oven for another 2 hours.
  • At this point, the meat should be falling from the bone if you insert a fork or take a piece with a pair of tongs. If not, place back in the oven for another half hour. Remove from the oven, uncover, and let cool slightly (skim 4 tablespoons of fat from the surface and set aside to make the Orange Adobo Pizza Sauce).
  • Once cool enough to handle, remove the pork from the braiser and place on a large chopping board. Leave the adobo sauce in the braiser (set aside 1 cup of adobo sauce for the Orange Adobo Pizza Sauce). Discard the bay leaves.
  • Using a meat fork and a sharp knife, thinly slice the meat, which should be falling apart. Discard the bone. Place all the meat back in the adobo sauce left in the braiser. Toss to coat.
  • Eat the meat with tacos, enchiladas, tostadas, nachos, on top of rice, or use it as a topping for pizza!

Notes

Pierna de Cerdo en Adobo de Naranja y Piloncillo

Pork Stew Stacked in Corn Tortillas

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Pork Stew Stacked in Corn Tortillas
Print Recipe
4.41 from 5 votes

Pork Stew Stacked in Corn Tortillas

Pork Stew Stacked in Corn Tortillas from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 3 “The World Cup of Tacos”
Cook Time1 hour
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: beans, chile, corn tortillas, pork
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the asado de puerco:

  • 3 pounds pork loin fat on, cut into 3/4” cubes
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 peeled garlic cloves
  • 10 whole allspice
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt

For the chile sauce:

  • 4 ancho chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 4 guajillo chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 1 pound ripe Roma tomatoes
  • 2 unpeeled garlic cloves
  • 1 thick slice of a white onion about 2 ounces
  • 1 jalapeño or serrano chile
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • Rind of an orange

To make empalmes (corn stacks):

Instructions

To make the asado de puerco:

  • Place the meat in a large, heavy casserole. In a piece of cheesecloth, wrap the bay leaves, 2 peeled garlic cloves, and the whole allspice. Tie with a piece of kitchen twine and place over the pork. Cover the pork with water and add 1 teaspoon salt. Give it a stir. Set over high heat and let it come to a boil. Remove any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce the heat to medium high and continue cooking until water has completely cooked off, about 45 minutes.

To make the chile sauce:

  • Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. On a preheated comal or medium skillet set over medium heat, toast the ancho and guajillo chiles for about a minute per side. Until they toast, change color and begin to fume, but don’t let them burn. Transfer them to a small saucepan and cover them generously with water. Place over medium-high heat and let cook for about 10 minutes, until they plump up and rehydrate. Turn off the heat and set aside.
  • On the same comal, place the tomatoes, 2 unpeeled garlic cloves, onion and jalapeño. Let them cook for about 8 to 10 minutes, and flip every 2 to 3 minutes as they char (alternatively you roast or char them under the broiler or on a grill for a similar amount of time). Once the skin is completely charred, and the tomatoes are very mushy and the onion and jalapeño are very soft, transfer them all to the jar of a blender, making sure to remove the skin of the charred garlic cloves. Add the rehydrated ancho and guajillo chiles along with 1 cup of their simmering liquid, an additional cup of water, the oregano, cumin seeds, and 1 teaspoon salt. Purée until completely smooth.
  • Once the water has completely cooked off from the pork, remove the cheesecloth packet and let the meat cook in its own fat for about 3 to 4 minutes, until it has browned on all sides. You may add a bit of lard or oil if the pork didn’t have much fat to begin with.
  • Reduce the heat to medium low and add the chile sauce. Stir well and incorporate the orange rind. Let it cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until the sauce has thickened and seasoned and the pork is completely tender. The stew should be very saucy.

To make the empalmes:

  • For crunchy empalmes – In a skillet or comal preheated over medium heat, place a couple of corn tortillas and spread a tablespoon of Frijoles con Veneno on each tortilla. Top them generously with asado de puerco and cover with another corn tortilla on top. Let the tortillas gently brown on the bottom for about a minute or two. Gently flip and let them brown on the other side for a minute or two. You have a single-stack empalme. If you want a double-stack empalme, add one tortilla, frijoles, asado, another tortilla, frijoles, asado, and another tortilla on top.
  • For a soft empalme platter – Serve a hot corn tortilla on a plate, spread Frijoles con Veneno onto the tortilla, and add a generous amount of asado de puerco on top. Then add 3 to 4 more warm corn tortillas on top of the asado.

Notes

Asado de Puerco con Empalmes

Chicharrón in Three Chiles Salsa

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Pellizcadas
Print Recipe
4.17 from 6 votes

Chicharrón in Three Chiles Salsa

Chicharrón in Three Chiles Salsa recipe from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 10, Episode 7 “Getting to the Roots”
Cook Time15 minutes
Course: Filling, Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: cilantro, jalapeno, Poblano, serrano, tomatillos
Servings: 4 to 5 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds tomatillos husks removed and washed
  • 1 cup cilantro leaves and upper part of the stems
  • 1 poblano chile stemmed, seeded, and coarsely chopped
  • 1 jalapeño chile stemmed and coarsely chopped
  • 1 serrano chile stemmed and coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 5 ounces chicharrón broken into pieces

Instructions

  • Place the tomatillos in the medium saucepan, cover with water, and set over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, until the tomatillos are soft and cooked through. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the tomatillos to the jar of a blender along with the cilantro, poblano, jalapeño, serrano, chicken broth, and salt. Puree until smooth.
  • In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the pureed three chiles salsa and let simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chicharrón in pieces and continue cooking for a couple minutes more.
  • Use it as a filling for tacos or quesadillas, or as a topping for sopes or pellizcadas.

Notes

Chicharrón en Salsa de Tres Chiles

Jalisco-style Birria

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Jalisco-style Birria
Print Recipe
4.17 from 12 votes

Jalisco-style Birria

Jalisco-style Birria recipe from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 10, Episode 5 “Escaramuza”
Cook Time3 hours
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Ancho, cilantro, corn tortillas, Guajillo, lamb, lime, morita chiles, Salsa
Servings: 8 to 10 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 4 to 5 pounds bone-in lamb shoulder ribs, or leg, or a combination, cut into approximately 3 inch pieces
  • ⅓ cup white distilled vinegar
  • 4 teaspoons kosher salt or more to taste
  • 4 dried ancho chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 4 dried guajillo chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 4 dried cascabel chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 3 dried morita chipotle chiles stemmed
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 3 tablespoons fresh oregano or 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 4 whole cloves stemmed

For serving:

  • Warm corn tortillas
  • 2 cups finely chopped white onion
  • 2 cups chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • 2 or 3 limes quartered
  • Salsita Tapatía or salsa of your choice

Instructions

  • Place the meat in a large roasting pan, pour on the vinegar and sprinkle the salt, and rub it all over the meat. Let it sit as you prepare the marinade.
  • Heat a comal or small skillet over medium-low heat. Toast the dried chiles for a minute per side, or until lightly toasted. Place in a saucepan along with the garlic and cover with 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes until the chiles have softened and plumped up.
  • Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chiles and garlic to the jar of a blender, along with the 4 cups of cooking liquid and the oregano, cumin, nutmeg, black pepper, and cloves and puree until smooth. Cool to room temperature.
  • Cover the meat with the adobo, making sure it is all well rubbed. Cover and let sit in the refrigerator, ideally, anywhere from 24 to 48 hours (or at least 2 hours).
  • Remove the meat from the refrigerator. Preheat the oven to 375℉.
  • Place the meat and all of the marinade in a roasting pan, tightly cover with aluminum foil, and roast in the oven for 2½ to 3 hours. Uncover and continue roasting for another 35 minutes, or until the meat is so tender it is falling off the bones and it is browned on the top. Taste the broth and adjust the salt. You may need to add some water to the pan if it has reduced too much during the cooking.
  • When it comes to serving, you have many choices: You can transfer the meat to a platter, moisten with the remaining broth, and assemble the meat in tacos or make birria-dillas (or quesa-birrias). You can garnish the tacos or quesadillas with the onion, cilantro, lime and salsita of your choice, such as the tapatía.

Notes

Birria Estilo Jalisco

Chile Charred Pork

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Chile Charred Pork Sandwich
Print Recipe
4.43 from 7 votes

Chile Charred Pork

Chile Charred Pork recipe from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 10, Episode 1 “Welcome to Guadalajara”
Cook Time2 hours 30 minutes
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: pork
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 pound pork butt cut into 1- 2 inch cubes
  • 1 pound pork ribs cut into individual ribs
  • 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 4 guajillo chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 2 chiles de árbol preferably Chile de Yahualica from Jalisco, stemmed
  • 4 whole cloves stemmed
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1" piece of true cinnamon or canela or substitute 1 teaspoon ground canela
  • 2 garlic cloves peeled
  • 1 tablespoon peeled and coarsely chopped fresh ginger
  • 2 ounces grated Mexican chocolate
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Place the pork butt and ribs in a large bowl, cover with the vinegar, sprinkle with the salt, and mix. Cover and let sit in the refrigerator for one hour.
  • On a preheated comal or skillet set over medium heat, toast the guajillos and chiles de árbol for a minute per side, until lightly toasted and their texture and color have changed (but don’t let them burn), set aside. On the same comal or skillet, toast the stemmed cloves, cumin seeds, sesame seeds, oregano and thyme for just a minute, stirring constantly so they don’t burn. If using the piece of canela stick, toast it for a minute or two.
  • Place the toasted chiles as well as the garlic cloves and ginger in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until rehydrated and plumped up.
  • In the jar of a blender, add the rehydrated chiles, cooked garlic and ginger, and a cup of the cooking liquid. Add the toasted cloves, cumin seeds, sesame seeds, oregano, thyme, canela stick or ground cinnamon, grated chocolate, ground black pepper and puree until completely smooth. Let cool to room temperature, then cover the pork with this mixture and marinate in the refrigerator anywhere from 24 to 48 hours.
  • When ready to cook the meat, preheat the oven to 375°F. Remove the pork from the refrigerator. Once the oven is hot, place the pork in a baking pan or dish, cover with aluminum foil, and roast for 2 hours.
  • Remove the foil and roast uncovered for another 30 minutes. The meat should completely fall apart when you shred it with a fork. Eat it in lonches or tortas, or tuck it into soft corn tortillas for tacos.

Notes

Tatemado de Puerco

Sonora Cheese Soup

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Sonora Cheese Soup
Print Recipe
4.41 from 5 votes

Sonora Cheese Soup

Sonora Cheese Soup recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 9, Episode 9 "Cooking for my Crew in Sonora"
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: anaheim chiles, caldo, cheese, chicken broth, Mexico, pati’s mexican table, pay de queso, poblanos, queso, queso fresco, Sonora, Sonoran, sopa, soup
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons canola or safflower oil
  • 1 to 1 1/4 pounds potatoes about 4 medium, peeled and diced (about 3 cups)
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped white onion
  • 1 ripe medium-sized tomato cored and diced without discarding seeds and juices
  • 4 fresh Anaheim or poblano chiles about 1 pound, charred or roasted, sweated, peeled, seeded and cut into strips
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt or to taste
  • 4 cups homemade chicken broth
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/2 pound queso regional fresco de Sonora or queso fresco

Instructions

  • Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy soup pot. When hot, add the potatoes and onions and cook, stirring often, until the onions are soft and translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the tomato, prepared Anaheim or poblano chiles, and salt, and cook until the ingredients are softened, 4 to 5 minutes more.
  • Add the chicken broth, bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are completely tender and the broth has thickened a bit. Taste and adjust salt. Reduce the heat to medium-low, slowly add the milk and bring back to a gentle simmer. Gradually crumble the cheese into the simmering soup and stir until cheese is completely melted – or serve in bowls with cubes of the cheese in the bowls adding the soup on top. Taste again for salt and serve hot.

Notes

Caldo de Queso

Chicken, Hominy and Pinto Bean Stew

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Chicken Hominy and Pinto Bean Stew
Print Recipe
4.72 from 7 votes

Chicken, Hominy and Pinto Bean Stew

Chicken, Hominy and Pinto Bean Stew recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 9, Episode 8 "Super Sonoran"
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
Course: Soup, stew
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: anaheim chiles, chicken, frijoles de la olla, gallina, gallina pinta, hominy, Mexico, pati’s mexican table, pinto beans, pozole, Sonora, soup, stew
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound dried hominy soaked in water to cover for 8 to 24 hours, or 4 cups cooked (2 15-ounce cans )
  • 1 head of garlic with peel on, halved horizontally (if cooking hominy only)
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt if cooking hominy
  • 1/2 recipe frijoles de olla using pinto beans (3 cups cooked beans), or 2 15-ounce cans

For the chicken:

  • 1 4- to 5- pound whole chicken cut up into 8 to 10 serving pieces
  • 1/2 white onion
  • 4 garlic cloves peeled
  • 1 fresh Anaheim chile stemmed, seeded, cut in quarters
  • 10 stems fresh cilantro
  • 2 teaspoons kosher or sea salt

For the Anaheim seasoning sauce:

  • 1 fresh Anaheim chile
  • 1/4 white onion halved
  • 2 garlic cloves unpeeled
  • 10 sprigs cilantro

For garnish:

  • 1 cup chopped white onion
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped cilantro leaves and top part of stems
  • Crushed chiletpin chiles may substitute finely chopped chiles de arbol, ground chile piquin or red pepper flakes
  • 2 limes quartered

Instructions

  • Strain soaked hominy and rinse. Place in a large pot, add water to cover by at least 4 to 5 inches, and add the halved head of garlic. Set over high heat and bring to a rolling boil. Reduce to medium heat, skim off foam, cover partially and simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until the hominy “blooms” or opens up. Once the kernels are very soft and you see them opening on the top like a flower, add salt, stir, turn off the heat, and set aside and let cool. Do not continue to cook or the hominy will fall apart. If making the frijoles de olla, you may do so while the hominy cooks. If using canned hominy and beans, you may skip this step.

To cook the chicken:

  • Do this while the hominy and beans are cooking. Place the cut up chicken in a large soup pot or casserole. Cover generously with water by at least 2 to 3 inches. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat to medium-low, skim off foam and add the halved onion, 4 peeled garlic cloves, the quartered fresh Anaheim chile, 10 stems of cilantro and 2 teaspoons salt. Cover partially and simmer for 1 hour, until the chicken is falling away from the bone. Remove from heat, transfer the chicken pieces to a bowl and let cool until you can handle them. Strain the broth, set aside 1 cup, and return the rest to the soup pot.
  • Discard the onion, garlic, Anaheim and cilantro. Remove the skin from the chicken and discard. Remove meat from the bones, tear it into small pieces, and return it to the strained broth.

To make seasoning sauce:

  • Preheat the broiler with the rack adjusted at the highest setting. Cover a baking sheet with foil and top with the fresh Anaheim chile, the onion quarter, and the 2 unpeeled garlic cloves. Broil for about 10 to 12 minutes, flipping the vegetables over halfway through, until completely charred on the outside and soft on the inside. The garlic will be done before the other ingredients, usually halfway through, and should be removed from the baking sheet when you see that it is charred and softened. Alternatively, you can roast the vegetables on a comal over medium heat, flipping them over every 4 to 5 minutes, until charred.
  • Place the chile in a plastic bag and let it sweat for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the skin, stem and seeds from the chile and peel the garlic. Cut the chile into pieces and place it in a blender along with the charred onion, the peeled roasted garlic cloves and 10 sprigs of fresh cilantro. Add the cup of strained chicken broth that you set aside, and puree until completely smooth. Pour back into the soup pot or casserole with the chicken and remaining broth.
  • Remove the onion from the pinto beans and stir the beans into the soup pot, along with 1 cup of their broth (or more, to taste). If using canned beans, rinse and add to the soup pot. Discard the halved head of garlic you added to the hominy and add the cooked hominy along with 1 cup of its liquid (or more to taste) to the soup pot. If using canned hominy, drain, rinse, and add to the pot.
  • Return the pot to medium heat, bring to a simmer and simmer, partially covered, for 15 to 20 minutes. You will know it’s ready when the seasoning sauce pools on the surface into tiny dark green puddles that are a darker green than the rest of the soup. Taste and adjust salt.
  • Serve and let everyone garnish with chopped white onion, cilantro, chiltepin chiles and a squeeze of fresh lime.

Notes

Gallina Pinta

Pinto Bean Soup with Masa and Queso Fresco Dumplings

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Pinto Bean Soup with Masa and Queso Fresco Dumplings
Print Recipe
4.10 from 10 votes

Pinto Bean Soup with Masa and Queso Fresco Dumplings

Pinto Bean Soup with Masa and Queso Fresco Dumplings recipe from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 8, Episode 7 “Jinetes, Adventure in the Mountains”
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: cilantro, green onions, masa, mexican crema, mint, onion, pati’s mexican table, pinto beans, queso fresco, Tomatoes
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons canola or safflower oil divided
  • 1/2 white onion chopped
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1/2 pound (about 2) ripe Roma tomatoes cored and chopped
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt divided, or to taste
  • 3 cups cooked pinto beans with 1 cup of their cooking broth
  • 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth divided
  • 1 cup corn masa flour preferably the masa harina mix for tamales, but masa harina for tortillas also works
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons crumbled queso fresco
  • 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro leaves
  • 1 tablespoon chopped mint leaves
  • Mexican crema optional, for garnish
  • Sliced scallions mint, cilantro and crushed dried chiltepín chiles or chiles de árbol, optional, for garnish

Instructions

  • Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large, heavy soup pot or casserole over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until it has completely softened, the edges are golden brown, and there is a toasted and sweet aroma wafting from the pot. Add the garlic clove and and cook for another minute until the garlic is fragrant and has colored. Stir in the tomatoes and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook for 5 minutes until the tomatoes have cooked down to a soft, thick paste.
  • Add the beans along with 1 cup of their broth, as well as 4 cups of the chicken or vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, cover partially and simmer for 10 minutes. The beans should be completely soft and the broth thick and soupy.
  • Meanwhile, prepare the masa for the dumplings. In a medium bowl, combine the corn masa flour with the water and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Knead together with your hands. The dough will be very coarse and seem dry. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, queso fresco, cilantro, and mint, and mix together until the dough is very soft and homogenous, about 1 minute. Set aside.
  • Working in batches, puree the pinto bean soup in a blender until completely smooth. Pour back into the soup pot and whisk or stir in the remaining 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth. Set over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low.
  • Begin forming the dumplings. Scoop up enough masa to make 1-inch balls, roll them between your hands (moisten your hands with water if they stick and, one-by-one, gently drop them into the soup. Once all the masa balls have been shaped and added to the soup, gently stir with a wooden spoon to make sure none stick to the bottom. Cover the pot partially with a lid and let the soup simmer gently for 15 to 20 more minutes until the masa dumplings are cooked through. They will thicken the soup as they simmer.
  • Taste the soup for salt and add more if need be. Serve hot, garnishing each bowl with a spoonful of fresh Mexican cream if desired. You may also sprinkle on some sliced scallions, mint, cilantro, and crushed chiltepín chiles or chiles de árbol for a punch of heat.
  • Note: If you are lucky enough to live next to a tortilleria or store that sells fresh corn masa, already mixed, go for it! You will need about 3/4 pound. Just mix it with the queso fresco, oil, mint, cilantro, and salt. If you can’t get ahold of fresh masa, rest assured that the corn masa made with masa harina for tamales or tortillas will still be excellent. If you have a choice between corn masa flour for tamales or for tortillas (they are two different products; masa harina for tamales will say so on the package), go for the tamal mix for these dumplings. The masa harina for tortillas is finer than the flour for tamales, but it will still work.

Notes

Sopa de Ombligo 

Chipotle Oyster Soup

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Chipotle Oyster Soup
Print Recipe
4.78 from 9 votes

Chipotle Oyster Soup

Chipotle Oyster Soup recipe from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 8, Episode 2 “Altata, Hidden Gem by the Sea of Cortez”
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: carrots, celery, chile de arbol, chipotles in adobo, leeks, onion, oysters, seafood, seafood broth, Tomatoes
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped white onion
  • 1 1/2 cups finely chopped celery divided
  • 1 1/2 cups finely chopped carrot divided
  • 1 1/2 cups finely chopped leeks divided
  • 5 garlic cloves finely chopped or pressed
  • 2 tablespoons about 4 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce and their sauce, chopped, or to taste
  • 1 chile de arbol stemmed and chopped, seeds included
  • 1 1/2 pounds about 6 Roma tomatoes, roasted and charred, chopped
  • 1 pound about 12 to 15 shucked oysters and their juices
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 5 cups shrimp or seafood broth or substitute vegetable or chicken broth
  • Chopped cilantro leaves for garnish
  • Quartered limes to serve

Instructions

  • In a large casserole or soup pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Once hot add the onion and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until softened. Incorporate 1 cup each of the celery, carrot, and leeks (reserving half a cup of each for later use), cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the vegetables have wilted. Make room in the middle of the pot and add the garlic, chipotles in adobo, and chile de arbol, cook for a minute, then mix with the vegetables and cook for another minute. Add the tomatoes, the juices from the oysters, salt, and oregano and cook for about 6 to 7 minutes, until it is all simmering and thickening a bit. Add the broth, once it comes back to a simmer, continue simmering for another 10 minutes. Turn off heat.
  • Once it cools off a little, puree in batches in the blender until completely smooth. If you want a very silky soup, strain back into the soup pot.
  • Bring the pureed soup back to a simmer over medium heat, add the remaining half a cup each of the celery, carrot, and leeks and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Incorporate the shucked oysters, cook for 1 minute until barely cooked through and turn off the heat.
  • Ladle into soup bowls, garnish with cilantro and offer your guests a quartered lime to squeeze in fresh juice before they eat.

Notes

Sopa de Ostion Enchipotlada

Tarascan Pinto Bean and Tomato Soup

Posted on by Pati Jinich

tarascan soup
Print Recipe
4.34 from 9 votes

Tarascan Pinto Bean and Tomato Soup

Tarascan Soup Pinto Bean and Tomato Soup, from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 7, Episode 12 "Photographic Food Memories"
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: beans, pati's mexican table, pinto beans, Recipe, soup, Vegetarian
Servings: 6 to 8 Servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For soup:

  • 1 pound ripe plum or roma tomatoes
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 (about 1 ounce) ancho chile, stem and seeds removed
  • 1/2 cup white onion, coarsely chopped
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher or sea salt divided, or more to taste
  • 3 tablespoons safflower or corn oil
  • 1 pound cooked pinto beans plus 2 cups of their cooking liquid or 2 14-ounce cans cooked pinto beans plus 2 cups water
  • 3 cups chicken broth vegetable broth or water

For garnishes:

  • 1/2 cup Mexican style cream
  • 1 cup crumbled Cotija cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups crumbled tortilla chips or tortilla strips
  • 1 ancho chile stemmed, seeded, diced, deep fried for a few seconds
  • 1 avocado, peeled seeded, meat scooped out and diced, optional

Instructions

  • Place the tomatoes, garlic, and ancho chile in a saucepan. Cover with water, and simmer over medium-high heat for 10 to 12 minutes, until the tomatoes are completely cooked through and ancho chile is rehydrated.
  • Transfer the tomatoes, garlic, and ancho chile to a blender or food processor, along with 1 cup of the cooking liquid, the white onion, and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Puree until smooth.
  • Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the pureed tomato mixture and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it darkens in color and thickens in consistency.
  • Meanwhile, rinse your blender or food processor, then add the pinto beans and 2 cups of their cooking liquid (or water, if using canned beans) and puree until smooth.
  • Reduce the heat to medium and stir the bean puree, broth and the remaining ½ teaspoon of salt into the thickened tomato mixture. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the soup has seasoned and has a creamy consistency. Taste for salt and add more if needed. Turn off the heat, as it thickens quickly.
  • Ladle the soup into bowls, drizzle with a tablespoon of the cream and top with some cheese, a handful of crumbled tortilla chips or tortilla strips, a few fried ancho chile crisps and some diced avocado. You can also place the garnishes in bowls on the table to let your guests decide how much of each garnish they want to add to their bowls.
  • The soup itself may be cooled and stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Because this soup thickens a bit as it cools, you may need to add some chicken broth or water to thin it out when you reheat it.

Notes

Sopa Tarasca

Corn Soup with Queso

Posted on by Pati Jinich

Print Recipe
4.43 from 7 votes

Corn Soup with Queso

Corn Soup with Queso recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 6, Episode 8 "In Search of La Mixteca"
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Corn, epazote, pati's mexican table, queso fresco, serrano chiles
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup white onion finely chopped
  • 1 to 2 serrano or jalapeño chiles stemmed and finely chopped
  • 4 cups fresh corn kernels from 5 to 6 ears of corn or substitute with thawed from frozen
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt
  • 1/4 cup fresh epazote leaves chopped, or substitute with cilantro
  • 8 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup diced queso fresco

Instructions

  • In a soup pot set over medium-high heat, melt the butter with the oil. Once it sizzles, add the onion and chile and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until completely wilted and beginning to brown.
  • Add the corn and salt, stir, and cook for another 3 minutes. Add the epazote or cilantro and stir.
  • Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Then cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 7 to 8 minutes. Turn off the heat.
  • Pour the soup into bowls and serve hot. Top with queso fresco.

Notes

Sopa de Elote con Queso 

Caldo de Oso

Posted on by Pati Jinich

There is no bear in this soup. Nor is the soup named after any bear. In fact, there are zero bears to be found in the state of Chihuahua, where this soup comes from. Yet, I admit Pepe was right, it is a spectacular soup, and it is called caldo de oso (or bear soup).

I met Pepe a few months ago at a Telemundo news interview, while on book tour in Denver. He was the producer. As he walked me out of the building, we got caught up in a long, detailed conversation about soup, even though I was in a hurry to catch a plane. I don’t know what hooked me more in wanting to know every little thing about this soup: its curious name, how much he seemed to adore it, or the fact that I’ve never tried it although I’ve been to Chihuahua many times.

Well, here we go again. Another story, out of hundreds and hundreds of incredible stories and recipes I have learned while traveling the US. It turns out, each and every single Mexican I have met here is as passionate as I am about the Mexican food we grew up with. We are all a bunch of nostalgic food fanatics.

Anyway, back to the soup.

It turns out caldo de oso is insanely popular in Chihuahua. The thing is, it is not to be found in restaurants, but in homes. One reason I may have missed it all the times I visited. And considering how dearly loved it is, it makes the origin of its name even funnier.

Here goes the true story:

Almost a century ago, workers building the La Boquilla Dam, on the Conchos River in Camargo, used to make a fish soup every day with catfish, which were bountiful in that river. After eating it so often, instead of calling it caldo de pescado (or fish soup), they started calling it caldo odioso, which translates to hateful soup.

From saying caldo odioso again and again, the soup got the nickname caldo de oso – from the shortened odi-oso to oso. It is a common Mexican practice to make words smaller and use them in their diminutives or cute nicknames. And the name stuck: caldo de oso! However, other than the workers at the dam who ate it everyday, people in Chihuahua absolutely adore this soup.

So, Pepe gave me some tips, and he told me in detail how his mom makes it. I thoroughly researched it and tested it in my kitchen. And let me tell you, caldo de oso is totally worth the heavy nostalgia for it that Pepe carries around.

Caldo de Oso or Bear Soup recipe by Pati Jinich
Print Recipe
4.70 from 10 votes

Bear Soup

There is no bear in this soup. Nor is the soup named after any bear. In fact, there are zero bears to be found in the state of Chihuahua, where this soup comes from. Yet, I admit Pepe was right, it is a spectacular soup, and it is called caldo de oso (or bear soup). It turns out caldo de oso is insanely popular in Chihuahua. The thing is, it is not to be found in restaurants, but in homes.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: ancho chiles, carrots, catfish, cilantro, fish broth, lime, onion, pati's mexican table, Pickled Jalapeños, potatoes, Tomatoes
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 2 dried ancho chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2/3 cup white onion finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 2 pounds ripe Roma tomatoes chopped
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 8 cups seafood or fish broth or water
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 whole pickled jalapeño diced
  • 2 tablespoons vinegary sauce from pickled jalapeños
  • 2 cups carrots peeled and diced
  • 2 cups potatoes peeled and diced
  • 2 pounds catfish fillets cut into 2" pieces
  • 2 limes cut into wedges, to serve
  • 1/4 cup cilantro roughly chopped, to serve

Instructions

  • Place the ancho chiles in a bowl, cover with 2 cups boiling water, and let them sit for 10 minutes until they plump up and rehydrate.
  • In a soup pot, heat the butter and oil over medium heat. Once the butter is melted and bubbly, add the onion and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until softened and the edges begin to brown. Add the garlic, stir and cook for a minute until fragrant. Increase the heat to medium-high and incorporate the chopped tomato, cook for 6 to 7 minutes, until softened. Sprinkle the flour on top of the cooking vegetables, stir well, and let cook for another minute or so, stirring frequently, until the flour starts to brown and smell toasty. Pour in the broth or water and bring to a simmer.
  • Meanwhile, place the ancho chiles along with a cup of their soaking water into a blender, and puree until completely smooth. Add the chile puree, along with the thyme, marjoram, oregano, cumin, bay leaf, salt, pepper, pickled jalapeño and its vinegar to the soup, and mix well. Once it returns to a simmer, reduce the heat to medium, and let it cook for 15 minutes with the lid ajar.
  • Add the carrots, potatoes, and fish pieces and continue to cook for 10 more minutes, until vegetables and fish are completely cooked through.
  • Serve hot, along with lime wedges and chopped cilantro for people to add to their taste. I like it with crusty bread, such as a baguette, on the side.

Notes

Caldo de Oso

Lima Soup

Posted on by Pati Jinich

lima soup or sopa de lima
Print Recipe
4.25 from 8 votes

Lima Soup

Lima Soup recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 5, Episode 8  “Valladolid: A Day to Explore”
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time1 hour 25 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken, cilantro, corn tortillas, habanero, lima, pati's mexican table, sofrito, soup
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the broth:

  • 5 cloves garlic unpeeled
  • 2 chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)
  • 12 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher or coarse sea salt or more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the sofrito:

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil plus more for frying tortilla strips
  • 1/2 red onion chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 1 green or yellow bell pepper stemmed, seeded and chopped
  • 1/2 pound ripe tomatoes chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt

To serve:

  • 6 to 8 Corn tortillas cut into 2"x1/2" strips
  • 1 thinly sliced lima (lemon or lime) for garnish
  • 2 to 3 limas (lemon or lime) to add right before serving
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves and upper stems chopped, for garnish
  • 1 habanero chile finely chopped (optional)

Instructions

For the broth:

  • Place the unpeeled garlic cloves under the broiler, or on a pre-heated comal set over medium heat, and roast or char for 10 minutes, flipping a couple times in between, until completely blackened. Set aside.
  • Place chicken breasts in a soup pot and cover with 12 cups water. Add the charred garlic cloves, oregano, thyme, bay leaves, whole cloves, salt and pepper, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Partially cover with a lid and cook for 40 minutes, until the chicken is completely cooked through yet still tender. Remove from the heat. Remove the chicken breasts and once cool enough to handle, shred into fine pieces. Strain the broth into a large bowl, incorporate the shredded chicken, and reserve.

For the sofrito:

  • Rinse and dry the soup pot. Heat the oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the onion, bell pepper, tomato and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring often, for about 10 minutes until the vegetables are completely cooked through and practically mashed and mushy.
  • Pour the reserved chicken broth and shredded chicken into the pot with the sofrito, bring back to a simmer, and cook partially covered for 8 to 10 minutes, until all the flavors have come together.
  • Heat about 1/4" of oil in a deep skillet or casserole and set over medium heat. Once hot, working in batches, flash fry the corn tortilla strips for 10 to 15 seconds until lightly golden, and remove with a slotted spoon or spider. Place on a plate covered with paper towels, drain and lightly season with salt. Alternatively, you spread the tortilla strips on a baking sheet and bake at 275 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 15 minutes, flipping once in between.

To serve:

  • Ladle the soup into bowls and add a couple very thin slices of lima. Top with tortilla strips, and give everyone a half a lima to squeeze into their soup right before they eat it. Additionally, you may set out chopped cilantro and habanero for everyone to garnish as they please.

Notes

Sopa de Lima

Zucchini Soup with Tortilla Crisps

Posted on by Pati Jinich

zucchini soup
Print Recipe
4.86 from 7 votes

Zucchini Soup with Tortilla Crisps

Zucchini Soup with Tortilla Crisps recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 2, Episode 13 “Naturally Vegetarian Mexican”
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: jalapeno, leeks, mozzarella, Oaxaca cheese, onion, pati's mexican table, tortilla chips, Vegetarian, Zucchini
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the soup:

  • 1 tablespoon corn or safflower oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup white onion chopped
  • 1 cup leeks white and light green parts, sliced
  • 1 jalapeno chile sliced in half, seeding optional
  • 3 pounds green zucchini ends removed, diced
  • 5 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt more or less to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground, or more to taste

For the garnish:

  • 1 1/2 cups tortilla crisps or totopos optional
  • 1 cup Oaxaca cheese or mozarella, diced, optional

Instructions

  • In a soup pot set over medium-low heat, add butter and oil. Once the butter bubbles, stir in the onion, leeks and jalapeño. Cook, stirring sporadically, until the onion has softened, its color has become translucent, and the edges are beginning to brown lightly, about 12 to 15 minutes.
  • Raise the heat to medium, incorporate the zucchini and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, stirring here and there. Pour in the broth, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes, until the zucchini is thoroughly cooked and the soup has seasoned. Remove from the heat and let it cool slightly.
  • Place it all in the blender in batches and purée until smooth. Return the soup to the pot and let it thoroughly heat over medium heat. Serve very hot. Either spoon some diced cheese and totopos into each soup bowl right before eating, or let your guests add as much as they fancy.

Notes

Sopa de Calabacitas con Totopos

Creamy Poblano Soup

Posted on by Pati Jinich

creamy poblano soup
Print Recipe
4.37 from 11 votes

Creamy Poblano Soup

Creamy Poblano Soup recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 2, Episode 11 “Puebla: Food From a Colonial Jewel”
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken broth, Corn, onion, pati's mexican table, poblanos, queso fresco
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 cups white onion chopped
  • 5 to 6 poblano peppers roasted, sweated, peeled, seeded and diced
  • 2 cups corn kernels fresh or thawed
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup milk
  • Queso fresco, crumbled optional

Instructions

  • Place a large soup pot over medium heat; add oil and butter. Once the butter melts and begins to sizzle, add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion has completely softened, and the edges have begun to brown, about 10 to 12 minutes.
  • Add the poblano chiles, stir and let them cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Make some room in the middle of the pot, and add the corn, sprinkle the salt and pepper and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Pour in the chicken broth, let it come to a simmer and cook for 5 more minutes, so that the flavors have had the chance to really blend.
  • Reduce the heat to low, wait for about a minute, and gently pour in the milk. Heat the soup through, for about 6 to 8 minutes, and serve. If you make it ahead of time, and want to reheat it, do so over low-medium heat.

Notes

Crema Poblana

Mexican Chicken Broth

Posted on by Pati Jinich

broth or caldo
Print Recipe
3.84 from 6 votes

Mexican Chicken Broth

Mexican Chicken Broth recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 4, Episode 5 “Tamaliza!”
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: carrots, celery, chicken, chicken broth, onion, pati's mexican table
Servings: 8 cups broth & 6 cups shredded chicken
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 3-pound chicken cut into serving pieces, or 2–3 pounds mixed chicken parts
  • 3 carrots peeled and cut into large chunks
  • 1 white onion halved
  • 3 celery stalks cut into large chunks
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 5 to 6 black peppercorns
  • 5 to 6 fresh Italian parsley sprigs
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons dried marjoram
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • 3 1/2 quarts water

Instructions

  • Place all the ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, skim off any foam, and simmer, partially covered, for 50 minutes. Turn off the heat and let cool.
  • With a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken pieces to a bowl. Strain the broth into a container, cool, and refrigerate. Remove the skin and bones from the chicken. Shred or cut the meat into chunks for future use and refrigerate if not using right away.

Notes

Caldo de Pollo

Mole de Olla

Posted on by Pati Jinich

Print Recipe
4.41 from 5 votes

Mole de Olla

Mole de Olla recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 4, Episode 10 “Modern Mexico"
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: ancho chiles, beef, chayote, cilantro, Corn, green beans, mint, Mole, onion, pasilla, pati's mexican table, tomatillos, Tomatoes, Zucchini
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds beef stew meat cut or beef shank meat cut into 1 1/2-inch to 2-inch chunks and bones added to the pot
  • 1/2 white onion
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • 10 cups water
  • 1 large sprig of fresh mint or between 10 and 12 leaves
  • 3 dried ancho chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 3 dried pasilla chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 1 pound (about 4) ripe tomatoes preferably roma
  • 1/4 pound tomatillos (about 1 or 2 depending on size)
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds lightly toasted
  • 2 chayote squashes peeled and cubed (about 3 cups)
  • 1 large zucchini cubed (about 3 cups)
  • 3/4 pound green beans trimmed and cut into about 1-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
  • 3 ears of fresh corn husked and cut into thirds
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped white onion for garnish
  • 3/4 cup Chopped fresh cilantro for garnish
  • 3 to 4 limes quartered, for garnish

Instructions

  • In a large heavy-bottomed casserole or pot, place the meat, half onion, garlic cloves, bay leaves, mint and a tablespoon of salt. Cover with 10 cups of water and bring to a rolling boil over medium-high heat. Skim off any foam that rises to the surface, and reduce the heat to low or medium-low heat, cover and simmer for an hour.
  • Meanwhile, place the ancho and pasilla chiles in a medium bowl, cover with boiling water and let them rehydrate for 10 to 15 minutes. Place the tomatoes and tomatillos in baking dish under the broiler, until they are completely charred and mushy, about 10 minutes. In a small skillet set over medium heat, place the sesame seeds and toast, stirring constantly, anywhere from 1 to 2 minutes until they start to become golden brown, but not completely dark brown.
  • In the jar of a blender, place the soaked chiles, along with 1/4 cup of the soaking liquid, the broiled tomatoes and tomatillos, and the toasted sesame seeds, and puree until completely smooth.
  • Remove the lid from the large casserole, remove the cooked onion, mint and garlic cloves (if some remains, it is totally fine) and pour the chile mixture in with the meat. Stir, cover again and cook for another half hour.
  • Remove the lid, raise heat to medium heat, add the cubed chayote squash and the corn, and cook partially covered for 15 minutes. Add the green beans and zucchini, and cook partially covered for another 10 minutes. Taste for salt and add more if need be.
  • Serve in bowls, making sure that each bowl has a serving of meat, corn, chayote, green beans and zucchini. Place white onion, cilantro and halved limes at the table, for people to add as last seasonings and garnishes.
  • Note: Traditionally, this recipe uses xoconostles, which are hard to find in the US. Instead, I use tomatillos, which have a similar tart flavor.

Mole de Olla

Posted on by Pati Jinich

I don’t think twice about eating a hot stew in the summertime. And, as far as I know, millions of Mexicans feel the same way.

You will see Pozole served in fondas in the middle of June, hot Caldo de Camarón as one of the most popular items on beach restaurant menus, and the famed Mole de Olla being ladled, sizzling hot from the pot, in markets all over the country at peak midday heat.

I’ve read that having something hot in the summer will actually cool you off. It turns out chiles are thought to have the same effect.  All these Mexican stews, quoted above, have rich broths that are usually flavored with one or more kinds of chiles.

I find these kinds of one-pot meals to be the epitome of how practical and creative human beings can be: economical, filling, and so tasty, they have all you need for a meal in a bowl. All cultures have their ways of making stews. In Mexico, Mole de Olla is a dearly loved one, and it is a dish that, unfortunately, hasn’t become popular abroad… yet.

Mole de Olla has little to do with the mole sauce so many people outside of Mexico equate with Mole Poblano. That delicious, super thick sauce made of dried chiles, seeds, nuts, spices, tomatoes, onion, garlic, chocolate, and numerous other ingredients ground together. Mole de Olla, however, (translates as Mole in a pot) is a revered stew.

As with many of the Mexican stews, the first step for a Mole de Olla is making a broth with the meat, along with some onion, garlic, and herbs. I particularly like to add fresh mint to mine. The meat is cooked until it is practically coming apart, and the broth is as flavorful as can be. The simmered herbs and veggies are removed, as by then they will be extremely mushy and most of their flavor transferred to the broth.

The second step is to take that rich-tasting broth to a higher dimension of flavor. A seasoning sauce is made with ancho and pasilla chiles, toasted sesame seeds, and tomatoes. Usually, xoconostles (a very tart and sour fruit of the cactus plant) are used, but since they are quite hard to find in the US, I substitute for tomatillos, which are tart, not as sour as xoconostles, but hey, they do the trick. The meat broth then simmers a second time as it marries with the seasoning sauce, adding so much depth of flavor: a gentle but addicting heat, a lovely acidity, and a whisper of nuttiness.

As a third step, fresh veggies are added. Corn, zucchini, chayote squash, green beans…but this time, the veggies are cooked just until tender and crisp and also full of flavor.

mole de olla

Mole de Olla is a humble dish. A stew made with a piece of meat and fresh veggies that are available year round. Yet, it turns out to be a full blown delicious meal. As anything Mexican, once it is set on the table and everyone gets a share of succulent meat, a lot of deep-tasting broth, and a share of all the veggies, extra garnishes are set on the table to dress it up and enhance the dish even more. You get a chance to squeeze in fresh lime juice to brighten up the stew, and you also get to spoon on crunchy and pungent white onion and cilantro.

This stew is a joy to eat. People eat it almost in a ceremonial fashion. Each person with a set style of their own. Some people eat the corn first, some people leave it for last. Some people first finish the broth and then go for the meat and veggies, or tuck them into tacos.

I eat a bit of everything as I move along. But one thing is definite: once I start, I don’t stop for a second, not even to look around. I sip a little broth, take a spoon with some veggies, some meat, more broth, and with my hands I take some bites of the corn… until there is almost absolutely nothing left in the bowl. At this point, I raise the bowl to finish the last sips of broth.

Then I wish for another go, just to repeat the experience. Though I always realize I am full, content, and feel so at home.

P.S. Fall is around the corner, and guess what, Mole de Olla is also fabulous for cold nights. So don’t store this recipe for the summer, keep it out, all year round.

mole de olla

Print Recipe
4 from 7 votes

Beef and Veggie Mole Stew

I find these kinds of one-pot meals to be the epitome of how practical and creative human beings can be: economical, filling, and so tasty, they have all you need for a meal in a bowl. All cultures have their ways of making stews. In Mexico, Mole de Olla is a dearly loved one, and it is a dish that, unfortunately, hasn’t become popular abroad… yet. Mole de Olla has little to do with the mole sauce so many people outside of Mexico equate with Mole Poblano. 
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Ancho, beef, chayote, Corn, green beans, lime, mint, onion, pasilla, pati's mexican table, stew, tomatillos, Tomatoes, Zucchini
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds beef stew meat or beef shank meat cut into 1 1/2-inch to 2-inch chunks and bones added to the pot
  • 1/2 white onion
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • 10 cups water
  • 1 large sprig of fresh mint or between 10 and 12 leaves
  • 3 dried ancho chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 3 dried pasilla chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 1 pound (about 4) ripe tomatoes preferably Roma
  • 1/4 pound (about 1 or 2 depending on size) tomatillos
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds lightly toasted
  • 2 chayote squashes peeled and cubed (about 3 cups)
  • 1 large zucchini cubed (about 3 cups)
  • 3/4 pound green beans trimmed and cut into about 1-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
  • 3 ears of fresh corn husked and cut into thirds
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped white onion for garnish
  • 3/4 cup Chopped fresh cilantro for garnish
  • 3-4 limes quartered, for garnish

Instructions

  • In a large heavy-bottomed casserole or pot, place the meat, half onion, garlic cloves, bay leaves, mint and a tablespoon of salt. Cover with 10 cups of water and bring to a rolling boil over medium-high heat. Skim off any foam that rises to the surface, and reduce the heat to low or medium-low heat, cover and simmer for an hour.
  • Meanwhile, place the ancho and pasilla chiles in a medium bowl, cover with boiling water and let them rehydrate for 10 to 15 minutes. Place the tomatoes and tomatillos in baking dish under the broiler, until they are completely charred and mushy, about 10 minutes. In a small skillet set over medium heat, place the sesame seeds and toast, stirring constantly, anywhere from 1 to 2 minutes until they start to become golden brown, but not completely dark brown.
  • In the jar of a blender, place the soaked chiles, along with 1/4 cup of the soaking liquid, the broiled tomatoes and tomatillos, and the toasted sesame seeds, and puree until completely smooth.
  • Remove the lid from the large casserole, remove the cooked onion, mint and garlic cloves (if some remains, it is totally fine) and pour the chile mixture in with the meat. Stir, cover again and cook for another half hour.
  • Remove the lid, raise heat to medium heat, add the cubed chayote squash and the corn, and cook partially covered for 15 minutes. Add the green beans and zucchini, and cook partially covered for another 10 minutes. Taste for salt and add more if need be.
  • Serve in bowls, making sure that each bowl has a serving of meat, corn, chayote, green beans and zucchini. Place white onion, cilantro and halved limes at the table, for people to add as last seasonings and garnishes.
  • Note: Traditionally, this recipe uses xoconostles, which are hard to find in the US. Instead, I use tomatillos, which have a similar tart flavor.

Notes

Mole de Olla

Red Pozole with Traditional Garnishes

Posted on by Pati Jinich

red pozole
Print Recipe
4.58 from 7 votes

Red Pozole with Traditional Garnishes

Red Pozole with Traditional Garnishes recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 3, Episode 13 “My Piñata Party”
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time5 hours 15 minutes
Total Time5 hours 25 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Ancho, chicken, guajillo chiles, hominy, onion, pati's mexican table, pozole, radish, refried beans, tortilla chips
Servings: 12 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the pozole:

  • 1 pound dried hominy or 3 29-ounce cans hominy, drained and rinsed
  • 1 head garlic papery outer layers removed, but not entirely peeled (if using dried hominy)
  • 2 whole chickens (about 3 pounds each) rinsed and cut into serving pieces, or a combination of 3 pounds chicken and 3 pounds pork shoulder or butt
  • 1 white onion peeled
  • 5 fresh cilantro sprigs
  • 1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt plus more to taste

For the chile puree:

  • 2 ancho chiles (about 1 ounce) rinsed, stemmed and seeded
  • 3 guajillo chiles (about 1 ounce) rinsed, stemmed and seeded
  • 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped white onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • Pinch of ground cumin
  • 2 whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or more to taste
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

For the garnishes:

  • 5-6 limes halved
  • 10 radishes rinsed, halved and thinly sliced
  • 1 head of romaine lettuce rinsed, drained and thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup chopped white onion
  • Dried ground chile such as piquín, ancho, chipotle or a Mexican mix
  • dried oregano
  • Crispy tostadas or tortilla chips store-bought or homemade
  • refried beans store-bought or homemade (optional)

Instructions

To make the pozole:

  • If using dried hominy, place it in a large soup pot. Add water to the pot to cover the hominy by at least 3-inches. Add the head of garlic. Don’t add salt now or the hominy will toughen. Bring to a boil and simmer over medium-low heat, partially covered, for 4 to 5 hours, until hominy is tender and has begun to “bloom” or open up. Occasionally skim the foam from the top as the hominy cooks and make sure it doesn’t dry as it cooks, adding more hot water if need be. If using canned or pre-cooked hominy, start with step below.
  • Meanwhile, place the chicken (and pork, if using), in a large soup pot. Add water to cover the top layer of chicken by at least 2 inches. Add the onion, cilantro and the tablespoon of salt and bring to a boil. Simmer, partially covered, until chicken is cooked through and tender, about 35 minutes. Drain, reserving the cooking broth. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the skin and bones and shred the meat into bite-sized pieces.
  • In the soup pot, combine the cooked hominy and its broth (discard the garlic head), or the canned hominy and 2 cups water, with the shredded chicken and its broth. Taste for salt, add more if need be, and simmer all together for 10 minutes more.

To make the chile puree:

  • Place the chiles in a 3-quart saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the chiles have softened and rehydrated. Place the chiles, along with 1/2 cup of their cooking liquid, the onion, garlic, cumin, cloves and salt in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. If using a food processor, be sure to wrap a towel around the joint between the lid and the base to catch any escaping liquid. Pass the sauce through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl, pressing gently on the solids with the back of a wooden spoon to extract as much liquid as possible.
  • Heat 3 tablespoons vegetable oil in the 3-quart saucepan over medium heat until hot, but not smoking. Add the chile puree, bring to a boil and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally and allowing it to thicken.
  • Add the red chile sauce to simmering pozole, let it cook for an additional 25 minutes, adjust the seasoning, and serve in soup bowls. Arrange the garnishes in smaller bowls on the table and let your guests customize their pozole. Or, if making ahead, let the pozole cool then cover and refrigerate, and reheat when you are ready to serve.

Notes

Pozole Rojo

Tortilla Soup

Posted on by Pati Jinich

Print Recipe
4.30 from 10 votes

Tortilla Soup

Tortilla Soup recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 3, Episode 4 “Meals in a Minute”
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: ancho chiles, Avocado, chicken broth, guajillo chiles, mexican crema, onion, pasilla, pati's mexican table, queso fresco, Tomatoes, tortilla chips
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 3 guajillo chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 1 pound ripe tomatoes
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/2 cup roughly chopped white onion
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 sprig fresh parsley
  • 12 corn tortillas cut into 1- to 2-inch strips
  • 1 ancho or pasilla chile stemmed, seeded, cut into 1-inch strips and quickly fried (optional, for garnish)
  • vegetable oil for frying
  • 8 ounces queso fresco diced
  • 1/2 cup Mexican style cream crème fraiche or sour cream
  • 1 ripe Mexican avocado halved, pitted, meat scooped out and diced

Instructions

  • Set a comal or skillet over medium heat. Once it is hot, toast the guajillo chiles for about a minute per side.
  • In a medium saucepan, place the toasted guajillos, tomatoes, and garlic clove and cover with water. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer anywhere from 12 to 15 minutes, until tomatoes are fully cooked and mushy, and the guajillos have rehydrated and plumped up.
  • Place the guajillos, tomatoes, garlic and onion in a blender, along with 1 cup of the simmering liquid and salt. Puree until completely smooth.
  • In a large soup pot, heat the 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, but not smoking, pour in the tomato puree. It will sizzle, make noise and smoke. Partially cover with a lid, if you need to. Let the puree cook, season and thicken, changing from a bright red to a darker red and thicker consistency, for about 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour in the chicken broth, add the parsley sprig and once it comes to a simmer, continue simmering for another 10 minutes. Before serving, remove the parsley sprig.
  • To prepare the garnishes: Fry or bake the tortilla strips. Flash fry the ancho or pasilla chile strips, literally 5 seconds in already hot oil in a skillet set over medium heat, drain in a paper towel.
  • Serve in soup bowls. Add a handful of tortilla crisps, and let people decide how much cream, queso fresco, chile crisps and avocado to add to their bowls. Or, if you don’t want to give anyone a choice, place all the garnishes in the soup plates, and pour the hot soup into the bowls at the table.

Notes

Sopa de Tortilla

Alphabet Soup

Posted on by Pati Jinich

Print Recipe
4.10 from 10 votes

Alphabet Soup

Alphabet Soup recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 3, Episode 3 “My Three Favorite Boys”
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time18 minutes
Total Time23 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken broth, fideo, onion, pasta, pati's mexican table, Tomatoes
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds fresh ripe tomatoes quartered, or whole canned tomatoes, drained
  • 1 garlic clove peeled
  • 1/4 cup coarsely chopped white onion
  • 1 cup water
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 cups alphabet-shaped pasta or any other small-shaped pasta, 12 ounces
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth

Instructions

  • Place the tomatoes, garlic, onion and water in a blender or food processor. Puree until smooth.
  • Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, but not smoking, add the pasta, stirring continuously. As you fry the pasta, it will change in color from a deep white to a deep brown. Take care not to burn it! You want to cook it until it smells toasty, but not bitter like burned toast, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Pour the tomato puree over the pasta, sprinkle in the salt, and stir. Be careful, as the puree will want to jump all over your burners, it’s a good idea to cover it partially with a lid. Let the tomato base cook and thicken for about 6 minutes, stirring often, until it becomes a deeper red and has thickened to the consistency of a thick puree. Keep on stirring, so the pasta doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot. You will see the base of the pot as you stir, but the sauce will not be dried out. Cooking the tomato puree to this point will give the soup a really nice depth of flavor.
  • Pour in the broth, stir, and when it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for another 10 minutes. Taste for seasoning and serve.

Notes

Sopa de Letras

Tex-Mex Chili

Posted on by Pati Jinich

tex mex chili pati jinich
Print Recipe
4.93 from 13 votes

Tex-Mex Chili

Tex-Mex Chili recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 3, Episode 2 “Pati’s Texican”
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: beans, beef, bell peppers, cayenne pepper, chili, chipotles in adobo, ground beef, jalapeno, onion, pati's mexican table, pinto beans, pork
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil plus one tablespoon set aside
  • 1 pound beef stew meat cubed into 1-inch chunks
  • 1 pound ground pork or beef
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or more to taste
  • 1 white onion chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper chopped
  • 1 tablespoon chopped jalapeño seeding optional
  • 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Chili powder such as ancho or chipotle chile powder
  • 1 tablespoon chipotle chiles in adobo sauce or more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 28- ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
  • 4 cups beef stock
  • 2 15-ounce cans pinto beans drained and rinsed (or about 4 cups homemade)

To garnish:

  • sour cream
  • Chopped fresh cilantro
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Tortilla chips
  • Green onions sliced thin

Instructions

  • In a Dutch oven or heavy bottom casserole, heat 3 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef, and begin to brown on all sides. After 2 to 3 minutes, add the ground meat, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and let it brown along with the cubed meat for another 5 to 6 minutes. The juices of the ground meat should have come out and then dry out. Stir as the meat browns.
  • Make room in the center of the pan, add the extra tablespoon of oil and add the onions and peppers, cook for 5 more minutes or until they begin to soften. Make some room in the casserole again, add the garlic, red pepper flakes, cayenne, paprika, chili powder, chipotle sauce, cumin, oregano, stir well.
  • Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar and vinegar, mix well and cook for 3 to 4 minutes stirring a couple times. The tomato paste should have dissolved and the sauce thickened a bit. Pour in the beef stock and once it comes to a strong simmer, reduce heat to medium. Add the beans and stir. Lower the heat to medium-low, it should have a low steady simmer, and cook uncovered for an hour, stir every once in awhile.
  • Serve the chili in bowls and let your guests garnish with sour cream, cilantro, shredded cheddar cheese, tortilla chips and green onions.

Notes

Chili Tex-Mex

Shredded Flank Steak with Potatoes in Green Salsa

Posted on by Pati Jinich

Print Recipe
4.58 from 7 votes

Shredded Flank Steak with Potatoes in Green Salsa

Shredded Flank Steak with Potatoes in Green Salsa recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 3, Episode 1 “Born in The Kitchen”
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 55 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: cilantro, corn tortillas, jalapeno, pati's mexican table, potatoes, serrano chiles, steak, stew, tomatillos
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds flank steak cut into 3- to 4-inch chunks
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Half of a white onion
  • 3 garlic cloves peeled
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt
  • 10 black peppercorns optional
  • 1 pound tomatillos husks removed and rinsed
  • 1 garlic clove peeled
  • 1 jalapeño or serrano chile or to taste
  • 1/3 cup coarsely chopped white onion
  • 1 cup cilantro leaves and top part of stems
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or more to taste
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 pound baby red potatoes if they are not so small, halved or quartered to be bite size

Instructions

  • Place meat in a soup pot or large, heavy pot along with the bay leaves, half an onion, 3 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon salt and black peppercorns. Cover with water up to 2 inches above top of the meat. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, reduce the heat to medium and simmer, partially covered, for 50 minutes to an hour, until the meat is thoroughly cooked and soft. Strain, reserving 3 cups of the meat cooking liquid. Once the meat has cooled enough to handle, shred it into pieces.
  • Place the tomatillos, 1 garlic clove and chiles in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and cook until the tomatillos have changed their color from bright green to pale green and are soft and thoroughly cooked but not coming apart, about 10 minutes. Drain and place in a blender or food processor, adding only one chile to begin. Add the onion, cilantro and salt to the blender and puree until smooth. Taste for heat, adding more chile until you have the desired amount of heat.
  • Heat the oil in a large casserole pan over medium heat. When the oil is hot but not smoking, pour the salsa into the pan, along with the potatoes and cook, partially covered, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 5 to 6 minutes. Toss in the shredded meat and pour in 2 cups of the meat cooking liquid. Stir and cook uncovered for about 25 minutes, or until the potatoes are completely cooked through and soft and the stew has thickened considerably. Add more cooking liquid if the sauce is thickening too much.
  • Serve with a side of warm corn tortillas.

Notes

Guisado de Carne en Salsa Verde

Chipilí­n Soup with Masa and Fresh Cheese Dumplings

Posted on by patiadmin

I have a thing for soups.

Doesn’t matter what time of day, what season of the year, what place I’m in, if I want tasty comfort my entire self craves a big bowl of soup.

As far as soups go, I have concocted some, I religiously repeat some I grew up eating, and then there are others I’ve become enamored with as I’ve ventured deeper into my home country’s cuisine.

As soon as my feet touch new territory, I search for its signature soup: the one everyone knows; the one everyone loves; the one present at every home kitchen. As easy as it may sound, sometimes those soups stir away from restaurants. Luckily, the first meal we had during our trip to Chiapas included that soup.

Chipilin Soup 1

It was at a touristy restaurant serving a regional specialties buffet. The broth was thick and brimming with Chipilí­n, an herb with a grassy taste (like a mellow version of spinach or a gentle variation of watercress) and a silky delicate bite. The best part of the soup was the corn masa dumplings, dfferent from other I’ve tried, these had queso fresco mixed in the masa or dough, resulting in fluffier balls with a deep soft bite.

A couple days later, I bought a big bowl of Chipilí­n soup at a small fonda in Chamula. I sat on the sidewalk and ate it as I watched the church procession pass by.

The Church of San Juan Chamula is one of Mexico’s most famous: probably the most controversial as well, for its wildly eclectic combination of indigenous, pagan and Catholic rituals. Not to mention it’s particular architecture and decorations.

This second version of the soup was lighter, yet it had much more color, like the doors in the photo above. A bit of tomato spiked the broth and I tasted a bit of green heat. Don’t ask me why it didn’t occur to me to take a photo of the soup. Instead, I took photos of the Señores below.

Chipilin Soup 2

Tzotzil Mayas, which form part of one of the twelve indigenous groups that live in this state, were getting ready to walk in the procession, with their unique attire made with goatskin. Some men wear black, some wear white, and the women make skirts in the same style.

If you have never heard “Tzotzil”, a Maya language, you have missed listening to one of the sweetest sounds. As delicate as those Chipilí­n leaves.

Chipilin Soup 3

Ok, back to the soup. That same day, I tried a third version.

A short ride away we landed in a restaurant with a sumptuous buffet that was different from the first. This one boasted a larger display of typical dishes from the region. Their Chipilí­n soup had a much clearer broth, as if the masa dumplings had been cooked separately from the final soup and incorporated in the end. It had less Chipilí­n leaves in the broth, making it look more elegant and light, and there was queso fresco to add as a garnish, as well as Mexican crema and small pieces of chicharrón.

Chipilin Soup 4

I tried a fourth version in a restaurant near the Palenque ruins (which can take anyone’s breath away and I am just adding more photos of the ruins because I can’t help myself)

Chipilin Soup 5

Let me indulge… and yes I climbed up so high to look at that view.

Chipilin Soup 6

Here is a close up.

Chipilin Soup 7

Alright, back to the soup. This one had the smallest of masa balls, and different than the soups before, aside from having Chipilí­n in the broth, there was a generous amount of Chipilí­n chopped into the masa balls. It also had extra garnishes of more queso fresco and thick Mexican cream. But no chicharrón.

I did think about other things than trying more versions of the Chipilí­n soup and other foods I had no idea existed (which I will write about in other blog posts). Especially when we had the chance to learn about the insanely gorgeous textiles made in Chiapas.

Chipilin Soup 8

Once at San Cristobal de las Casas, I tried one last version of the soup in one of the restaurants in that busy street below. This soup included corn kernels in the broth. The contrast of that sweet crunch next to the soft masa balls in the flavored broth worked so well!

Chipilin Soup 9

No. I did not take a photo of it, because I didn’t know I was going to write about all the Chipilí­n soups I tried in Chiapas! Of course now I wish I had.

The good thing is that here is a recipe for you to try the soup.

You can find Chipilí­n in the US these days, especially in Latin markets in the Summer and Fall. I just found some at Panam market in DC.

It looks like this. It is so pretty I put a big bunch in a flower vase and admired it as I ate it away and the bunch kept getting thinner.

Chipilin Soup 10

Here is a close up, so you can see just how delicate the leaves are.

Chipilin Soup 11

If you can’t find it, you can substitute it with sliced baby spinach or watercress.

The recipe I am giving you here, was tested in my kitchen until I nailed down all the elements I enjoyed in the different versions: fluffy masa balls flavored with cheese, an abundance of Chipilí­n leaves in the broth but not in the masa balls, sweet crunchy corn seasoned along with the onion that makes the base of the soup, and cooking the masa balls in the soup so that as they cook, they thicken the broth. I find that extra thick broth to be irresisitible. It almost resembles atole or a very light porridge (in a good way).

Just like Chiapas is not so well known outside of Mexico, it’s cuisine remains to be enjoyed abroad. This soup has many of the features I recognized in the different meals I ate there: distinct, with a lot personality, yet at the same time homey, delicate and comforting. Thankfully, many of the ingredients used in Chiapas, are now accessible abroad too.

Chipilin Soup 12

A good soup recipe, I’ve learned, always comes in handy. Especially if it takes you somewhere. This one takes me right back to Chiapas.

Chipilin Soup Main
Print Recipe
4.17 from 6 votes

Chipilí­n Soup with Masa and Fresh Cheese Dumplings

The recipe I am giving you here, was tested in my kitchen until I nailed down all the elements I enjoyed in the different versions: fluffy masa balls flavored with cheese, an abundance of Chipilí­n leaves in the broth but not in the masa balls, sweet crunchy corn seasoned along with the onion that makes the base of the soup, and cooking the masa balls in the soup so that as they cook, they thicken the broth. I find that extra thick broth to be irresistible. It almost resembles atoleor a very light porridge (in a good way).
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken broth, chipilí­n, Corn, masa, mexican crema, onion, queso fresco, Recipe, serrano chiles, soup
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup white onion chopped
  • 1 serrano chile finely chopped, seeding optional, add more or less to taste
  • 3 cups fresh corn kernels or thawed from frozen
  • 8 cups chicken broth
  • 3 cups packed chipilí­n leaves rinsed
  • 2 cups corn masa flour or Maseca
  • 1 3/4 cups water
  • 8 ounces or about 1 cup queso fresco crumbled, may substitute for farmer's cheese or a mild feta
  • 1/2 cup vegetable shortening or lard
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt divided
  • Mexican cream optional to garnish

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it has completely softened, the edges have begun to slightly brown and there is a sweet smell stemming from the pot. Add the chile, stir and cook for another couple minutes. Toss in the corn, stir and let it cook for about 3 to 4 minutes. Pour in the chicken broth. While it comes to a simmer, prepare the masa for the dumplings.
  • In a bowl, combine the corn masa flour with the water, the vegetable shortening and a pinch of salt. Combine and knead with your hands until the dough is soft and homogenous, it will take a minute. Add the crumbled queso fresco and knead into the dough.
  • Once the soup comes to a gentle simmer, add the chipilí­n leaves. Once it is heated through, lower the heat to low and start shaping the dumplings. With your hands, make about 1 to 1½" balls, as you make them, gently drop them into the soup. Once you are done with all the balls, let the soup cook for about 20 more minutes. It should be gently simmering. The balls should be cooked through and as they cooked in the soup they should have thickened to the consistency of a thin porridge. But it will be a most delicious one! Serve hot. You may garnish with some fresh cream on top of each individual soup bowl.

Notes

Sopa de Chipilín con Bolitas de Masa y Queso

Cucumber Soup with Mint, Jalapeño and Pomegranate

Posted on by patiadmin

Last post was about that Cucumber Martini I could drink an entire pitcher of. It feels like a century has passed, and I have so, so, so many stories and recipes to share with you. But only now, after a wildly crazy hectic summer desperately missing this blog, am I able to sit down and write. And guess what? I have no choice but to continue with cucumbers!

This is why: I thought I knew cucumbers, I really did, until I visited Mr. Jose Luis Rodrí­guez Rojas’ cucumber green house in the state of Morelos, a state known as “Mexico’s Spring”. Cucumbers grown there are the slicers, ironically called pepino Americano or pepino común in Mexico. Slicers are the cucumbers mostly used in Mexico’s kitchens. And the ones I use all the time.

Now I know how little I knew about them.

Sure I have peeled, sliced, diced and julienned a gazillion and have used them in so many ways, from salads to sorbets. I know it’s taste: mild, watery, fresh, wanting to be lemony. I know it’s bite: soft yet crisp. I know the coolest trick to help them never be bitter (cut ends and rub the opposing sides before peeling).

But I had never seen their plants in their youngest form, as Miguel, one of the farmers showed me.

Cucumber Soup 1

Nor was I aware, that after just one month of protected care, they grow to have jungle like looks and size.

Cucumber Soup 2

Look at them!

If I could only embed here the moist and clean smell of the plants and the velvety feel of their immense fully grown leaves, I would be so pleased.

Cucumber Soup 3

Much to my surprise, the flowers from where those huge cucumbers grow from are delicate and feminine. Their color a strong yellow that seems to want to fade right before your eyes, just as their petals seem to tell you to please be careful if you dare touch them.

There are male and female cucumber flowers and they are both as pretty. It is the female pollinated flowers, which grow a miniature baby cucumber right behind, covered in tiny-prickly-thin-like thorns that protect it as it grows. So they have ways of telling you not to touch them.

Cucumber Soup 4

The flower holds on, as the cucumber grows. See below?

I marveled.

After a while, I had to make an effort to stop ooooohing and aaaaahing at every site (I have to act more my age, you know).

Cucumber Soup 5

After they pick the cucumbers, they clean them and pack them up.

Cucumber Soup 6

Mr Jose Luis employs about 300 people a year. Each person I met, seemed proud about their job and meticulous in their care of the green house facilities and mostly, the plants. “No one kneels here to work”, Mr. Jose Luis repeated a couple times, “work here is worthy, dignified”. Truth is, it genuinely felt that way. It seemed that people felt vested in the business. Their faces lit up when I asked any question that popped out of my mouth (if you know me by now you know I have an endless stream of questions…).

Crazy Nacho Guani, who was filming with Cortez Brothers and I (for Season 2, which launches this weekend, yey!) was filming up there like a wild monkey (if you knew Nacho you’d know he climbs anything that has any height… )

Cucumber Soup 7

Mr Jose Luis’ chest seems to burst as he talks about the history of his green house, more so about the vegetables he grows. He drastically changed careers, like I did too. He, also, has never looked back.

After spending the day, Mr Jose Luis, who could not have been more friendly, asked if we were hungry. We were starved. He immediately offered to take us to his favorite place for a late lunch-early dinner. But that’s another story.

Cucumber Soup 8

Lesson learned, yet again: no ingredient, no single one is common. Even if it goes by the name pepino común, or common cucumber. Not even if you have used it a thousand ways and have chopped it a gazillion times.

Getting to know cucumbers, from flower to tops, made me think of so many new ways to use them. In a cold soup? With a bit of a bite from a jalapeño? With the wide echo from some mint? Topped with something sweet and crunchy and tart to make it all go wild in your mouth?

I played with the idea and once that I nailed a take I liked, I can’t stop making it.

Think of it as a Mexican tzatziki or as a white cucumber gazpacho of sorts. Or better yet, indulge me please and just make it. To boot: takes but 2 minutes in the blender.

p.s. Party or Holidays coming soon? Serve it in little mugs or cups for people to drink and munch along.

Cucumber Soup main
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Cucumber Soup with Mint, Jalapeño and Pomegranate

Getting to know cucumbers, from flower to tops, made me think of so many new ways to use them. In a cold soup? With a bit of a bite from a jalapeño? With the wide echo from some mint? Topped with something sweet and crunchy and tart to make it all go wild in your mouth? I played with the idea and once that I nailed a take I liked, I can’t stop making it.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: cucumber, jalapeno, lime, mint, onion, pati's mexican table, pomegranate, yogurt
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups thick Greek yogurt
  • 3 pounds slicer/common cucumbers about 2 1/2
  • 1 tablespoon red onion chopped
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 tablespoon jalapeño chopped or more to taste (seeding optional)
  • 15 mint leaves
  • 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or more to taste
  • 3/4 cup pomegranate seeds or more to taste

Instructions

  • Wash cucumbers, cut the ends and use them to rub the opposing cut ends of the cucumber. Peel and cut lengthwise into 4 long strips and slice off the seeds. Discard the seeds and cut into chunks.
  • In the jar of a blender, place the yogurt, cucumbers, red onion, garlic, jalapeño, mint, lime juice and salt.
  • Puree until smooth. Pour inside a mug or container and store in refrigerator until ready to serve.
  • Serve and sprinkle pomegranate seeds on top.

Notes

Sopa de Pepino con Jalapeño, Menta y Granada

Creamy Poblano Soup

Posted on by patiadmin

Growing up in Mexico City, I didn’t know a single person who celebrated Cinco de Mayo, except for the people who lived in the state of Puebla. We didn’t even get the day off! Sure we studied it in school–the unprecedented victory of a small Mexican militia against the large French army in 1862–but it was a short-lived victory, as the French won right back.

Fast forward 150 years to 2012: the French and Spanish are gone; Mexicans proudly celebrate Independence Day every September 16; yet, for reasons few of us can explain, Cinco de Mayo has become the greatest, most joyous, colorful celebration–for Mexicans living abroad. As strange as the nostalgia is, the longer I live abroad, the stronger the impact Cinco de Mayo has within my soul. These words fluff up like soft conchas right out of the oven, getting fluffier, sweeter and more comforting as the years go by.

As do so many Mexicans (and, increasingly, non-Mexicans), I celebrate anything that can be celebrated about our Mexicaness: our heritage, resilience, hard-working and accommodating nature, our warmth, hospitality, generosity, the vibrancy and richness of our music, dance and food. Above all, our tendency to tirar la casa por la ventana (to throw out the house through the window) when it comes to throwing a party.

Thankfully, as Cinco de Mayo celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, the spotlight is finally being cast on Puebla, the place where that famous battle took place. At last, the celebration that has become the rage beyond Mexico’s borders is coming back to the place where it originated. It’s about time!

Puebla is a hidden treasure, a colonial jewel with rich history, architecture, arts and culture, coupled with an exquisite overlay of modernity. Most important, its one of Mexico’s main culinary hubs.

Creamy Poblano Soup 1

Some of our most iconic (and most labor intensive) dishes come from Puebla, born in convents where Spanish and Mexican cuisines wedded so beautifully. There’s the classic mole Poblano, with its layers of complex flavors subtly coming together once in your mouth; and there’s the colorful Chiles en Nogada whose red, white and green represents the Mexican flag.

Yet Puebla is also home to a bounty of homestyle accessible dishes like the chicken tinga and the corn torte. And it’s home to one of my favorite Mexican ingredients: the chile Poblano. See below? That is how many Poblano chiles I go through a week in my house.

Creamy Poblano Soup 2

This key ingredient has never ceased to charm me, from the moment I get it at the store to the moment I taste its exuberant, fruity flavor. It is, quite simply, sublime. Each time I cook a dish with a Poblano it feels like a celebration, as if I were right there in Puebla, but the party just happens to unfold inside of my home.

If you can’t get to Puebla anytime soon, try this soup for a Cinco de Mayo moment, be it Cinco or not.

Article written for and published by NBC Latino, poblano soup photo by Jack Foley.

Print Recipe
4.50 from 6 votes

Creamy Poblano Soup

This key ingredient has never ceased to charm me, from the moment I get it at the store to the moment I taste its exuberant, fruity flavor. It is, quite simply, sublime. Each time I cook a dish with a Poblano it feels like a celebration, as if I were right there in Puebla, but the party just happens to unfold inside of my home. If you can’t get to Puebla anytime soon, try this soup for a Cinco de Mayo moment, be it Cinco or not.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken broth, Corn, milk, onion, poblanos, Recipe, soup
Servings: 4 to 5 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 cups chopped white onion
  • 5 to 6 poblano chile peppers (about 1 1/2 pounds total) roasted or charred, sweated, peeled, seeded and diced
  • 2 cups corn kernels shaved from a cooked fresh ear of corn, or cooked from thawed
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper or to taste
  • 3 cups chicken broth may substitute for vegetable broth
  • 1 cup milk

Instructions

  • Place a large soup pot over medium heat; add oil and butter. Once the butter melts and begins to sizzle, add the onion. Cook the mixture, stirring occasionally, until the onions have completely softened, everything is cooked through and the edges turn slightly brown (about 10 minutes total).
  • Add the poblano chiles, stir and let them cook along with the onion for 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Make some room in the middle of the pot; add the corn and sprinkle the salt and pepper. Let everything cook, stirring occasionally, for another 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Pour in the chicken broth. Let it come to a simmer and cook for 3 to 4 additional minutes so the flavors start to blend. Reduce the heat to low, wait for about a minute, and slowly pour in the milk.
  • Heat the soup thoroughly for about 6 to 8 minutes, without letting it simmer or boil (if you do, it will appear curdled but still taste fine). Serve hot. Makes about 5 cups.

Notes

Crema Poblana

Mushroom-Jalapeño Matzo Ball Soup

Posted on by patiadmin

My grandfather on my mother’s side, Francisco, whom we called “Yeye,” was wild about chiles. Not very common in his native Bratislava, I guess. He used to say that what he loved the most about his new country was the predictable weather (especially the bright sunny winters), the colorful markets, and most of all, the chiles. All of them.

He was oh so very crazy about them, that my grandmother used to hide them from him. She complained that he had no boundaries, no sense of measure, when eating chiles. He simply would not stop.

But he knew all her tricks, discover all her hiding spots, and when he found the prized chiles, he would stuff them in his pockets. Not only fresh jalapeños or serranos but also wet pickled jalapeños... Those must have been some messy pockets to wash…

My “Lali,” liked to please him though. She had Austrian training in the kitchen and made exquisite and elegant foods. Once in Mexico, she fell in love with the cuisine and learned how to combine the two culinary traditions. She became a master at it.

She created a classic dish out of her Mushroom-Jalapeño Matzo Ball Soup.

Mushroom-Jalapeño Matzo Ball Soup 1

See? Just because you add a chile to something does not mean it becomes Mexican. You have to know how to add it, how much of it, and most importantly, when to not add….not every dish that is Mexican has a chile in it.

Lali made a mushroom base with a traditional Mexican treatment. Gently cooked onion, garlic and chopped jalapeños (with the seeds please) until the edges begging to brown. Then, she added the mushrooms and covered them, so they would steam in the mix. Once their liquids came out, she would open the pot again and let them dry, and begin to brown.

Mushroom-Jalapeño Matzo Ball Soup 2

Of the thousands of ways to use chiles, steaming them with other ingredients brings out their flavor in such a subtle way.

Then she poured her home made chicken broth on top.

Her Matzo balls were fluffy, round and simply seasoned with parsley (which has been growing so happily in my garden).

Mushroom-Jalapeño Matzo Ball Soup 3

Grated nutmeg is also added to the matzo ball mix. No need to add freshly ground black pepper.

Mushroom-Jalapeño Matzo Ball Soup 4

The eggs are the glue that holds the matzo balls together, combined with a bit of oil…

Mushroom-Jalapeño Matzo Ball Soup 5

Then she had a trick to make the matzo balls fluffy. That is, if you like them fluffy. Which most of my family does.

It seems that the main division in the matzo ball world, is between those that like the matzo balls hard and those that like them fluffy. Cooks debate all the time on how to make them fluffy or hard: more egg or less egg, more oil or less oil, matzo meal or matzo mix…

My grandmother’s trick to make them fluffy was to add sparkling water. But just a tablespoon for a full recipe. I always separate a bit of the mix without any, because I am the only one around here that likes the matzo balls hard.

Mushroom-Jalapeño Matzo Ball Soup 6

As much as my grandfather begged, my grandmother added little jalapeños. She argued that one needs to taste everything else, which in principle sounds right. But if he were here, I would make him an extra batch, with as many jalapeños I could find in my backyard. And there are oh so many…

Mushroom-Jalapeño Matzo Ball Soup 7

pati jinich mushroom jalapeno matzo ball soup
Print Recipe
4 from 6 votes

Mushroom-Jalapeño Matzo Ball Soup

If you're looking for a Mexican style matzo ball soup, this is one my grandmother used to make.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Jewish, Mexican
Keyword: chicken broth, jalapeno, Jewish Mexican, matzo, Mushroom, nutmeg, parsley, pati's mexican table, Recipe, soup
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 cup matzo ball mix
  • 2 tablespoons parsley finely chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • 4 large eggs
  • 8 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon sparkling water optional, to make the matzo balls fluffy
  • 1/2 cup white onion finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove finely chopped
  • 2 jalapeño chiles finely chopped, seeded optional, more or less to taste
  • 1/2 pound white mushrooms wiped clean with cloth, sliced
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt or to taste
  • 8-10 cups chicken broth

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the matzo ball mix, parsley, nutmeg, and 1 teaspoon of salt. In another small bowl, lightly beat the eggs with 6 tablespoons the of vegetable oil and the sesame oil. Fold in the beaten eggs to the matzo ball mixture with a spatula. Add the sparkling water if you want the matzo balls fluffy, and mix well until well combine. Cover the mix and refrigerate for at least half an hour.
  • Bring about 12 cups of salted water to a rolling boil in a large soup pot. Bring heat down to medium and keep at a steady simmer. With wet hands, make about 1 inch balls out of the matzo ball mix and gently drop them into the water. Cover and simmer for about 25 to 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium heat in a large cooking pot. Add the onion, garlic and chiles and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until they have softened. Incorporate the sliced mushrooms. sprinkle the salt, stir and cover with a lid. Steam the mushrooms for about 6 to 8 minutes.
  • Take off the lid and pour the chicken broth over the mushroom base. Once it is simmering, incorporate the already cooked matzo balls, without their cooking liquid, and serve.

Notes

Sopa de Bolas de Matzo con Hongos y Jalapeño

Pozole: Try It Green!

Posted on by patiadmin

Red pozole, or Pozole Rojo, Jalisco style, has been my favorite pozole of all time. It is bold and gorgeous in every possible way. I am so attached to it, we even served it at our wedding.

For decades now, I’ve refused to replace it with another. And then, I tried a unique green version, Pozole Verde, Guerrero style. It has not surpassed my Pozole Rojo, but it is attempting to tie with it at my table. And that is a lot to say.

Treasured all around Mexico, pozole has many variations, mainly green, red and white. Each distinct and beautiful, and coincidentally, represent the colors of the Mexican flag. Since September is the month of Mexican independence and The Day of El Grito is just around the corner, there is no excuse not to find an excuse to celebrate! And in my mental Mexican dictionary, pozole equals celebration.

Pozole has been made for centuries, and according to Fray Bernardino de Sahagún, a Spanish missionary, Moctezuma -greatest Aztec Emperor of all times- would honor the God of the Sun by eating and serving it. I don’t know though, what color it was!

What makes a pozole red or green is the seasoning sauce added to the stew. If there is no sauce, it is a white pozole. Though there are many kinds of green pozole, they all use green ingredients, and this one has: tomatillos,  epazote (or cilantro if you can’t find it), pumpkin seeds and jalapeños.

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Making that green seasoning sauce is simple. Tomatillos, garlic and chile simmer in water until the color of the tomatillos changes from bright, happy and loud to a mellow green. The texture goes from firm, to very mushy, but not coming apart.

The toasted pumpkin seeds are ground, they are pureed with that cooked tomatillo mix and white onion. The pumpkin seeds give the sauce a nutty, velvety base. Then the sauce is taken a step further and simmered until it is seasoned, thickened and its flavors have concentrated. It must be powerful, as it will dilute in the pozole. See? The spoon on the left has the green sauce before it is seasoned.

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What is common about any pozole is not only the many garnishes that dress it at the end, but also the very large corn known here as hominy, and in Mexico as maí­z cacahuacintle, also known as maí­z mote and giant corn. It gives pozole its signature mealy bite.

Cooking hominy is simple, but takes a while, so it is available already cooked in cans or refrigerated bags if you do not feel like preparing it. This is how it looks when you buy it at the stores before cooking.

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But I love to cook it at home. It is as simple as throwing it in a pot, covering it in water and waiting for it to “bloom”.  Literally, when it opens up at the top, you know it’s ready.

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Just like when cooking beans, add salt after they are cooked, or they will toughen up.Then in a big pot, combine the cooked hominy, the shredded chicken that was simmered in a simple broth (complete recipe below) as much green pozole sauce as you want, and a leafy stem of epazote, which will have anywhere from 5 to 10 leaves. If you don’t find epazote, add like 5 sprigs of cilantro. I personally add all the sauce. Then, you want to let all the ingredients cook together for about 20 minutes.

Once it is ready: dress it up! Radishes, lettuce, white onion, ground dried chile, oregano and quartered limes to squeeze juice on top, are placed at the table for you to choose. Tostadas to be munched on the side. And, in particular for the green pozole, Mexican avocado and chicharrones (crispy pork rind), are often too, which gives it an extra crunch. If you find some, add it on!

Whatever you choose, do squeeze fresh lime juice onto it.

Pozole is so popular in Mexico that there are pozolerí­as, restaurants that only serve pozole. That would be like a restaurant in the US that only served chicken noodle soup! How is that possible? Take a bite into this one-stop meal. You’ll see.

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P.S. Pozole tastes even better reheated. Great excuse for making the soup ahead of time. Also, watch out for this recipe: It serves a hungry party of 12.

green pozole or pozole verde
Print Recipe
4.41 from 5 votes

Green Pozole

Red pozole, or Pozole Rojo, Jalisco style, has been my favorite pozole of all time. It is bold and gorgeous in every possible way. I am so attached to it, we even served it at our wedding. For decades now, I’ve refused to replace it with another… And then, I tried a unique green version, Pozole Verde, Guerrero style. It has not surpassed my Pozole Rojo, but it is attempting to tie with it at my table. And that is a lot to say.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time3 hours 30 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken, chile, cilantro, epazote, hominy, jalapeno, lime, piquí­n chiles, pumpkin seeds, radish, Recipe, soup, tomatillos, tortilla chips
Servings: 12 to 15 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the white pozole:

  • 1 pound dried hominy rinsed, the same as giant white corn or maiz mote pelado
  • 1 head garlic
  • 2 whole chickens or about 6 pounds, cut up in serving pieces, rinsed (combine with pork butt or shoulder if desired)
  • 1 onion
  • Couple fresh cilantro sprigs
  • 1 tablespoon kosher or course sea salt or to taste

For the green pozole sauce:

  • 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds lightly toasted
  • 1 pound tomatillos husks removed, rinsed
  • 1 to 2 jalapeños stemmed
  • 1 fresh large leafy stem of epazote or 5 sprigs cilantro
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1/3 cup onion coarsely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt or to taste
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

For the garnishes:

  • 5 to 6 limes cut in half
  • 10 radishes rinsed, halved and thinly sliced
  • 1 head of romaine lettuce rinsed, drained and thinly sliced
  • 4 tab