Yesterday, my friend Betsa was kind enough to come to my house and give me a lesson on how to make what her family calls "sopas". She's taught me before, but I needed a second lesson with pictures and more notes so I can feel confident making them myself. Today, I am writing it all down with the pictures so I can go back and look once we move to Idaho. I thought this would be a good place to get it all down. (Be warned, I am not a great photo taker, and make no claim that my pictures will be loverly. They are to help me remember.)
1st Step: Boil Chicken
3 chicken breasts
half onion (just cut in two and throw it in pot, either white or yellow is great)
3 cloves garlic
half bunch cilantro (just throw in in pot)
1 tsp salt
bring to a boil, add a little chicken broth, shred when cooked through
2nd Step: Create Chicken and Tomato Mixture
6 tomatoes, sliced lengthwise
1 onion, sliced lengthwise
4 cloves garlic, chopped
soften in oil, when soft add chicken and a small amount of chicken broth (you don't want it juicy)
cook until thickened, add salt at this time if you'd like more
3rd Step: Make Tortillas (These aren't really tortillas, I don't know their name.)
In bowl, mix 1/4 a bag of Masa, 1 cup flour
Add water until reaching workable consistency.
Using dough equal to about the size of a lemon, place between two sheets of plastic and flatten with a plate.
Cook in pan (no oil) until browned on both sides.
Inside paper towell, pinch edges of cooked pastry to form edge, also pinch inside to make small "mountains".
Fry in oil, if desired.
4th Step: Red Salsa
4 whole tomatoes
2 or more whole peppers
blacken in skillet pan
when blackened, blend with 3 garlic cloves, small slices of onion, 1 tsp salt, small amount of water
or 4th Step: Tomatillo Sauce
5 whole tomatillos
2 whole peppers
boil in skins
when softened, remove skin of tomatillos, blend with 3 garlic cloves, onion, 1 tsp salt
5th Step: Black Beans
A few sliced onions
2-3 cans black beans
brown onions in oil (A really pathetic picture for this step.)
add black beans
squish them with a cup
boil and cook until thickened
6th Step: Extras
Grate fresh Mexican cheese.
Place sour cream in ziplock and cut tip, allowing you to pipe sour cream onto sopas.
Slice lettuce lengthwise.
And when all that's done you get these scrumptious soaps!!!
