Martian Soup Recipes

MARTHA ROSE SHULMAN'S TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a heavy soup pot over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and the chili powder and stir together for a minute, then add the garlic and continue to cook, stirring, for another minute, until fragrant. If the pan seems dry and the ingredients look like they may scorch, add the remaining oil. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down and smell fragrant, about 10 minutes. Add salt to taste. Add the garlic broth, bring to a simmer, cover and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.
• While the soup is simmering, toast the tortilla strips in the microwave. Place as many as will fit in a single layer on a plate and microwave at full power for 1 minute. Turn the strips over and microwave for another minute. Repeat if necessary for 30 seconds, or until crisp and light brown. Set aside. Repeat with remaining tortilla strips.
• Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until smooth. Bring back to a simmer and stir in the cilantro. Simmer for 1 minute. Taste the broth and adjust salt. Add cayenne if you want more heat. Stir in the lime juice.
• Distribute the toasted tortilla strips among soup bowls and top with the grated or crumbled cheese. Ladle in the soup. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

MATCHA AND MUSHROOM SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, thyme and the white and light green parts of the scallions, then sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until the mushrooms caramelize and start sticking to the bottom of the pan, about 10 minutes. Scoop out about 1/2 cup mushrooms and transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Sprinkle the matcha over the mushrooms in the pan and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Pour in the wine and stir to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Pour in the chicken stock and spinach, bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced slightly, about 10 minutes.
• Remove the soup from the heat and, working in two batches, use a blender to puree the soup until very smooth, about 2 minutes for each batch. Return the pureed soup to the pot, stir in the cream and season with salt and pepper.
• Ladle the soup into serving bowls and garnish with the reserved mushrooms and scallion greens.