Source: Traditional Mexican
Makes 4 servings.
Preparation time: 45 minutes
Tips: Soup or main dish, serve with warm corn tortillas.
Tomato Pasta Soup
also "Mexican Fideos"
Ingredients
Preparation
1 small onion, chopped
1 small carrot, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 whole fresh jalapeno pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
8 ounces canned tomato sauce or puree
4 cups chicken bouillon or consomate, see note (1)
1/2 cup small pasta or fideos (3 coils), see note (2)
1. In large pot, heat oil. Add chopped vegetables including whole jalapeno pepper, saute for about 5 minutes until onions are translucent. Add tomato sauce and fry for 1-2 minutes. Add bouillon, bring to boil and simmer for about 20 minutes
2. . About 15 minutes before serving, add pasta and cook until pasta is tender. Time may vary according to size and shape of pasta. Soup will thicken the longer you cook it or let it sit. Serve topped with a dollop of sour cream.
-For a thinner soup increase water or decrease pasta amount.
-For a strong tomato base add 1 tablespoon tomato paste along with tomato sauce.
VARIATION: Mexican "Fideos" as Main dish, dry pasta.
1. Increase fideos to about 6 coils. Fry fideos along with vegetables until fideos start to turn light brown.
2. Add tomato sauce and bouillon at once. Bring to boil and simmer uncovered until all liquid is absorbed and pasta is tender. Transfer pasta to buttered oven safe plate. Mix in sour cream.
3. Optional, add: cooked shredded chicken, grilled poblano pepper strips, grilled onion slices. Sprinkle with grated Chihuahua or Monterey Jack cheese.
4. Bake at 350 F degrees for 20 minutes.
Serve at once as a main dish.
NOTE: 1) Consomate = Tomato/chicken powder bouillon
2) Fideos = very thin coiled angel hair pasta
3) Soup can be made thick and hearty or as a light tomato broth by adjusting the amount of water and pasta used.
Makes 4 servings
FOR VARIATION ONLY:
4 ounces sour cream (1/2 cup)
1 cup cooked and shredded chicken
1 cup grilled seeded & skinned poblano pepper, cut into strips
1 cup grilled onion slices
2 ounces Chihuahua or Monterey Jack cheese
