Spicy Peruvian Potato Soup Recipes

PERUVIAN CHEESY POTATO SOUP WITH SPICY HERB SAUCE

Steps:

• The evening before you cook the soup, wash the chuños and soak them in a large bowl of warm water, enough to cover it by several inches. Leave for 12 hours. Drain the chuños the next day, wash them off again and cut each potato into 8 to 10 parts. In a large pot, combine the chuño pieces with enough cold water to cover by several inches. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until the chuños are puffed up and softer, about 20 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Put the oil in a large pot (at least 6 quarts) and set over medium-high heat. When hot, put in the onion and garlic. Stir and cook for 3 minutes. Add the celery and carrot. Stir and cook 3 minutes. Add the ginger and stir a few times. Put in the drained chuños, 8 1/2 cups water or stock, the russet potatoes, pumpkin or squash, salt, herbs and feta. Bring to a boil, cover, turn heat to low and cook gently for 30 to 40 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
• Add the spinach, stir and cook, covered, on low heat for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the vegetables are very tender but have not turned to mush. Check the salt. Thin the soup out with water or stock if it is too thick. It should be drinkable from the bowl.
• Put 2 teaspoons of uchucuta sauce into each bowl of hot soup and stir it in. Add more if desired.

POTATO SOUP WITH INDIAN SPICES

Steps:

• Put butter in a heavy-bottomed soup pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and a little salt and cook, stirring, until softened and just beginning to brown, about 8 minutes. Add carrots and celery and cook for 5 minutes more.
• Add turmeric, ginger, cayenne and asafetida, if using. Stir to coat and cook for another minute or so. Add potato chunks and 6 cups water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a brisk simmer. Add a healthy pinch of salt and cook until potatoes are soft when pierced with a skewer, about 15 minutes. Taste broth and adjust salt and heat as necessary: 1/4 teaspoon cayenne should suffice to make the soup fairly spicy, but add a touch more if you like.
• Use a potato masher to crush some of the potatoes, then continue to cook for another 5 minutes or so. This will help to thicken the soup slightly and give it more body. Turn off the heat.
• Make the tarka: Heat ghee in a small skillet over medium, but don't let it get too hot. Lower heat and add garlic and cumin seeds. Cook, stirring, until garlic is barely colored and cumin seeds have begun to brown, a minute or so. Add mustard seeds and green chile, if using. When mustard seeds begin to pop, after another minute, add the tarka to the soup and stir in.
• Ladle soup into low bowls, garnish with cilantro and serve. Pass lime wedges at the table.

HOMEMADE APPLE CIDER BEEF STEW

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, brown beef on all sides in oil over medium-high heat; drain. Add the cider, broth, vinegar, salt, thyme and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/4 hours. , Add the potatoes, carrots, celery and onions; return to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30-35 minutes or until beef and vegetables are tender. , Combine flour and water until smooth; stir into stew. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. If desired, serve with fresh thyme.