Sopa Seca Dry Soup Recipes

"DRY" MEXICAN NOODLE SOUP (SOPA SECA DE FIDEOS)

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add noodles; fry until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Add onion and garlic to the skillet. Cook and stir until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add tomato puree and bay leaves; cook until heated through, about 3 minutes.
• Pour tomato mixture carefully into a blender; add water. Cover and hold lid down with a potholder; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend. Pour back into the skillet; add bouillon and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and add the fried noodles. Cook until the noodles are tender and have absorbed most of the tomato sauce, about 15 minutes more.

SOPA SECA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or medium pot over medium-high heat until it ripples. Add the pasta and cook, stirring constantly, until the pasta is golden, about 3 minutes.
• Scoop out and discard 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add the Roasted Tomato-Chile Arbol Salsa and cook for 2 minutes, stirring the whole time. Pour in the chicken stock and let the liquid come to a simmer. Cover the pot and cook, stirring once in a while, until the liquid is absorbed and the pasta is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Divide the pasta between two bowls and garnish with the cilantro and cheese.

SOPA SECA DE TORTILLA CON CREMA (MEXICAN DRY SOUP)

Steps:

• Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a non-stick fry pan. Saute onion + garlic till soft & stir in chopped tomato.
• Cook tomato till thick, then stir in oregano & sugar. Season to taste & set aside in a bowl.
• Wipe the pan clean w/paper towels, heat the remaining oil in the pan & fry the tortillas without allowing them to brown. Drain fried tortilla strips on paper towels.
• Pour a layer of the tomato sauce into a greased flameproof casserole. Add a layer of tortilla strips, a thin layer of cream, another layer of sauce & a layer of grated cheese. Continue till all ingredients have been used, ending w/a layer of cheese.
• Cover casserole & heat through gently on the stovetop ~ or heat through for about 20 min in an oven preheated to 180C (350F).
• *Cooks Tip* ~ Be sure to use corn tortillas for this recipe. If only lrg ones are available, use 8.
• *Personal Note* ~ Altho not a part of the recipe or its authentic intent, I can easily see this dish 1) Converted to a main-course w/the addition of seasoned grd meat or chorizo to the sauce *or* 2) Combined w/a salad to form a meatless main-dish.

MEXICAN-STYLE RICE (SOPA SECA)

Steps:

• In a large heatproof bowl, pour boiling water over the rice enough to cover. Stir only once, and let stand 10 minutes.
• Transfer to a colander over the sink and rinse rice under cold water. Drain again. Set rice aside, spread out on a cookie sheet to dry slightly. (I usually do this first thing in the morning.).
• In the meantime, put the tomatoes, onion, garlic and half of chili pepper into a food processor or blender. Process until smooth like salsa. Set tomato mixture aside.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy saute pan and cook rice until a light golden brown color. Stir constantly so that rice does not burn, scraping bottom of pan with spatula because the rice grains will stick.
• Next add the pureed tomato mixture and keep stirring over medium heat until all the liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes. If mixture starts to boil, reduce heat. *Stir in the stock, salt, and green peas. Continue to cook the mixture on low-medium heat stirring occasionally until all liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, another 10-15 minutes. Be careful not to burn.
• *NOTE: DO NOT stir rice too often after adding the stock or the grains will become too starchy.
• The original directions say to remove pan from heat, cover with tight-fitting lid; letting stand in a warm place 10 minutes or so. I remove pan from heat, cover and place pan in low oven, at approximately 150-200 degrees. Sometimes I'll let the rice set in the oven for a good hour or longer, as long as the rice grains are tender and rice doesn't dry out too much.
• Transfer the cooked rice to a serving platter, fluff with fork and serve sprinkled with freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with thinly sliced chilis or serve on side.