Locro Argentino Soup Recipes

ARGENTINA: LOCRO

Steps:

• Put the hominy and dried beans in a large bowl and cover with water. Soak overnight. Drain before using. **Note: You can use canned if needed. I used dried hominy and lima beans and canned garbanzos. If you do this, you'll want to increase the amount by about 1.5 - it's not an exact science. I used 1 can of canned chickpeas in place of 1 cup dried. I added them about an hour through the boiling process, but I think it would be fine to add them all at the start.
• *Cut skin and excess fat off of the pork shoulder/butt; cut into 1" pieces and set aside on a plate. *Cut cured chorizo into 1/2" diagonal slices. I used uncooked chorizo, so I cooked the links most of the way before cutting. Set aside on a plate. *Quarter the bacon slices and set aside on a plate. *Peel and remove the seeds from the squash, cut into 1" pieces. *Dice the onions.
• Add 2 Tbsp olive oil to the bottom of a large Dutch oven. Add the pork cubes and cured chorizo. Sprinkle with salad and pepper and brown on all sides; set aside on a plate.
• Add five cloves minced garlic, onion and bacon; cook until soft, about 5-7 minutes.
• Add tomato paste, oregano, cumin, and bay leaf; cook for 2 minutes.
• Return meat to pan with hominy, lima beans, chickpeas, squash, and 10 cups water. Bring to a boil. Add ½ tsp baking soda to soften. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook until hominy and beans are tender, about 2 hours.
• While it's cooking, whisk 1⁄2 cup oil, paprika, red pepper flakes, and 3 cloves garlic in a small bowl. Slice the scallions.
• Once the stew is finished, squeeze in the lemon juice. To serve, ladle the stew into bowls. Sprinkle with scallions and drizzle with chili oil sauce.

LOCRO ~ ARGENTINA WINTER STEW

Steps:

• If using dried hominy, rinse until water runs clear. Place in a bowl with the beans, cover with water, and soak for at least 8 hours or overnight. If using canned hominy, skip this step and just soak the beans.
• Heat some olive oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Season pork and steak with salt and pepper. Brown the meat in batches, turning until browned all over, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Add chorizo and bacon, cooking for another 2 minutes.
• Add onion, leek, and garlic, cooking until soft, another 3 minutes.
• Add tomato paste, oregano, sweet paprika, 1 tsp. red pepper flake, and bay leaf. Cook for 2 minutes, then return meat to the pan with the drained hominy and beans, squash, and water or stock.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, partially cover, and cook until hominy and beans are tender, about 2 hours.
• Add some olive oil to a sauté pan and place over medium heat. Add a large amount of chopped scallions and cook until slightly soft. Then add smoked paprika and remaining red pepper flakes. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Heat the sauce through in a sauté pan.
• Divide stew into bowls and drizzle with the quiquirimichi.

LOCRO (ECUADORIAN POTATO-CHEESE SOUP)

Steps:

• Heat the oil or butter over medium flame in a large pot. Add the onion and garlic and simmer until the onion is translucent.
• Stir in the potatoes, water or stock, milk, salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer until potatoes are falling apart, 30-45 minutes.
• Mash the potatoes up a bit with the back of a spoon to thicken the soup, leaving it a little chunky.
• Remove the soup from heat and stir in the cheese.
• Adjust seasoning and serve immediately.
• *Variations:.
• A handful of corn kernels is often added to this soup. Use about 1 cup and add after the soup has simmered for about 20-30 minutes.
• Chopped avocado is often used as a garnish.

LOCRO - SOUTH AMERICAN POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Bring broth to a boil and add the potatoes. After it boils again, add milk.
• Meanwhile, to make olive oil with aciote seeds, you heat the oil in a small frying pan with 2-3 achiote seeds over med heat until the oil turns an orange color. Do not let the seeds burn, as the oil will taste bad.
• Saute the onion in the colored oil until translucent.
• When potatoes are almost done, add the onion.
• Separate the egg. Beat the yolk and add some hot soup to it, mix and add it into the pot. Stir well. Beat the egg white a little and add into the soup. Stir with a fork, Ribbons will form.
• Add in the cheese and stir until melted.
• Add salt and pepper to taste. You can sprinkle sliced green onion tops or cilantro on top to serve.
• As kids, we put a scoop of rice in the bowl and poured the soup onto it to serve. Delicious!