Tortilla Soup with Chiles and Charred Corn
This chile pepper is often mislabeled ‘Pasilla’, which is a different pepper entirely.It is one of the most popular chiles in Mexico and has won the appreciation of many a chef worldwide because of the superior flavor it has over regular bell peppers.
They have a tough outer skin that usually requires roasting and peeling before use. These very large chile peppers are most popular in chiles rellenos recipes, but cooking with these as a substitute for bell peppers in any recipe will enhance the flavor.
Ingredients:
4 chicken thighs, bone-in and skin-on
2 ears of corn, husked and silks removed
1/2 large white onion, diced small
2 ribs of celery, diced small
1-2 poblano peppers, seeded, ribbed, and diced small
2 jalapenos, seeded, ribbed, and diced small
1 chipotle pepper in adobo, diced plus 1 Tablespoon of the adobo sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 dried New Mexico chiles, ground in a spice grinder
4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
1 cup water
4 whole, canned tomatoes coarsely chopped plus 1/2 cup juices
5 sprigs cilantro
1 lime
salt to taste
3 corn tortillas cut into thin strips
oil for frying tortillas
Garnishes: Avocado, tomato, green onions, queso fresco, lime wedges–pretty much anything you like.
Instructions:
Serves 4
In a large pot (I used an enameled dutch oven) over medium-high heat, sear chicken thighs skin side down until crisp and golden and most of the fat has rendered into the pot. Remove chicken to a plate, and pour off all but 2 teaspoons of the chicken grease. Discard or save remaining grease.
Over a gas burner, on the grill, or under a broiler, char the ears of corn. Remove from heat source and set aside to cool.
Line a plate with paper towels. In a small skillet, heat about 1/4 inch of oil and fry tortilla strips in batches, draining on paper towels. Sprinkle lightly with salt while still warm. Set aside.
Cook the onions, celery, poblanos, and jalapenos in the pan with the chicken fat over medium-high until the edges of the vegetables take on some deep golden color and begin to soften. Add the ground, dried chiles, cumin, and the chipotle plus adobo. Add 4 cups of chicken stock, water, and tomatoes plus juice to the pot. Return the chicken thighs to the pot. Tie the cilantro sprig into a knot and add to the pot. Bring the soup to a boil, lower to a simmer and cook 20-25 minutes, until the chicken is done. Remove the chicken to a clean plate and cool enough to handle. Taste the broth and add salt if desired.
While the chicken cools, cut the corn off the ears–there will be corn shrapnel, beware. Shred the cooled chicken, discard skin, and add both the chicken and corn to the pot. Remove the cilantro knot, squeeze a whole lime into the soup and return the soup to a simmer–cook for 10 additional minutes. Serve with crispy tortilla strips and desired garnishes.
From hungrygirlporvida.com