Chipotle Turkey Pozole

Every Thanksgiving, after our grand roast turkey dinner, we fill up a huge stock pot with the turkey carcass and water, and make several quarts of turkey stock for soup. Usually turkey soup is a pretty standard affair, but if you are looking for a soup that might pack a little more punch, I recommend this pozole. It's made with turkey stock, leftover turkey, a little tomato, lots of hominy, and seasoned with smokey chipotle chile peppers in adobo. I've written about pozole before. It's hard to resist this soup, essentially "taco night" in a bowl (but not as messy!). Perfect for a crowd, which can be useful if your family is like mine?lots of siblings and friends who like to stick around because they know the food is good. Pozole is all about the toppings. Just set them out and let people add what they want to their soup.

Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. Check out our other turkey leftover ideas!

You can prepare the toppings while the soup simmers to save prep time. This recipe serves a crowd, you can easily halve the amounts for a smaller batch.

2 Tbsp olive oil1 large onion, chopped (about 2 cups)1/4 cup to 1/2 cup minced chipotles in adobo (to taste)3 large garlic cloves, minced1 15-ounce can crushed or diced tomatoesSalt4 to 5 cups leftover cooked turkey meat, shredded1 large (108 ounce, 6 lb 12 oz, 3 kg) can white hominy, rinsed and drained4 quarts of turkey stock or chicken stock3 bay leaves2 Tbsp dried oregano (Mexican if available)1/8 teaspoon ground cloves1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Toppings

1/2 head green cabbage, sliced thin3 avocados, diced1 bunch red radishes, sliced thin8 ounces Cotija cheese, crumbled1 large bunch cilantro, chopped (stems included)1 red onion, chopped4 limes, cut into wedgesA couple dozen tostada shells (can use tortilla chips or fried corn tortillas as well)

1 Heat olive oil on medium high heat in a large (12 quart) stockpot. Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic. Add the minced chipotles in adobo (start with 1/4 cup and add more later to desired heat). Cook for another 3 minutes.

2 Add the tomatoes and cooked turkey meat to the pot, stirring to combine. Add the rinsed and drained hominy. Add the stock. Taste and add salt (at least a tablespoon if you are using unsalted stock) to taste. Add the bay leaves, oregano, ground cloves, and cinnamon. Add more water if the soup is too thick with hominy for your preference. Bring to a simmer. Taste and add more salt, herbs, or chipotle to taste. You may need more salt than you expect, if you are using homemade, unsalted stock. Simmer for 45 minutes.

3 Set the table with toppings arranged in separate serving dishes. Spoon out the soup into bowls. Let people add the toppings they want to the soup.

Yield: Serves 12.

View the original article here

Read More

Chipotle Meatballs

Meatballs

2 slices bacon, minced2 garlic cloves, minced2 large eggs1/2 cup bread crumbs1 1/2 teaspoons salt1 1/2 pounds ground pork2 teaspoons dried oregano or finely chopped fresh mint1-2 teaspoons chipotle powder (or a couple teaspoons of adobo sauce)

Sauce

2 Tbsp olive oil1 medium onion, chopped, about 1 cup3 garlic cloves, minced1-3 canned chipotles in adobo, minced fine and sauce reserved1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes (preferably fire-roasted)1 teaspoon dried oregano1/2 cup beef or chicken broth

1 Preheat oven to 400?F. Mix all the meatball ingredients together in a large bowl and mix well with your clean hands for a minute or two. You want the mixture to be well integrated, but you don't want to overwork it or the meatballs will be tough.

2 With wet hands or an ice cream scoop, form meat into about 16 plum-size balls and space them out in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish, or, if you have one, a mini-muffin tin. Bake until lightly browned, about 15 minutes.

3 While meatballs bake, heat the olive oil in a saut? pan over medium-high heat and saut? the onions until they just start to brown. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, then add the minced chipotles, the can of tomatoes, oregano or mint, and beef broth. Mix well and add salt to taste. If you want more chipotle flavor, add the reserved chipotle sauce spoonful by spoonful, mixing and tasting between spoonfuls. Boil the sauce uncovered as the meatballs cook.

4 When meatballs are ready, put them into the sauce and toss to coat. If the sauce is too thin for your taste, continue to boil it down for a few minutes. Otherwise, serve with rice, tortillas or polenta. Garnish with cilantro to serve.

Yield: Serves 6-8.

View the original article here

Read More