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Ancho Chili Soup
This simple, meat-free spin on tortilla soup is inspired by a recipe from the late Patricia Quintana, chef, author and authority on Mexican cooking. Anchos chilies—dried ripe poblanos with a mild heat balanced by notes of tobacco, cocoa and dried fruit—drive the rich flavor and deep color of the soup. The agave nicely rounds out the earthiness with a touch of sweetness, so don’t omit it. If you don’t have any on hand, use 1 teaspoon white sugar instead. We like to top each serving with diced avocado and crumbled queso fresco.
4
Servings
Don't use the chili soaking water in the soup. It may give the finished dish an unwelcome bitterness.
40 minutes
Ingredients
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4
medium ancho chilies (about 2 ounces), stemmed, seeded and torn into pieces
-
1
cup boiling water
Directions
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01In a Dutch oven over medium, toast the chilies, pressing with a wide metal spatula and flipping once or twice, until fragrant and a shade darker in color, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and add the boiling water. Let stand until softened, about 10 minutes.
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Toasting the ancho chilies in my dutch oven stains it (requiring an overnight soak with baking soda to remove) so instead I put them on a parchment covered sheet pan and toast at 300F over for 8 minutes.