Sopa Azteca

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.02

Title: SOPA AZTECA
Categories: Soups, Tex-mex
Yield: 10 servings

3 md Onion; chopped
8 Garlic clove; peeled &
-crushed
2 T Olive oil
4 lb Tomato, ripe; cubed
2 T Oregano, dried
2 T Basil, dried
2 ts Pepper, black
10 c Chicken broth
1 c Celery; sliced
3 Bay leaves
1 Bell pepper, red; cored,
-seeded, & sliced
1 c Zucchini; diced
1 lg Carrot; diced
1 c Oil, vegetable
20 Tortillas; cut each into
-four strips
2 Potato; peeled & diced
1 lb Spinach, fresh; washed &
-torn
Salt; to taste
2 Avocado, ripe; diced
Lemon juice, fresh
1 lb Monterey Jack; shredded

In a large pot, heat chicken broth.
In a large skillet, saute onions and garlic in olive oil for 10 minutes.
Add tomatoes, oregano, basil, and pepper. Saute 10 more minutes, until
tomatoes are softened. Then Blend all of above in a blender. Add the
mixture to hot broth. Add celery, bay leaves, red bell pepper,
zucchini, and carrot. Let simmer about ten minutes.
Meanwhile, in skillet, fry tortillas strips in oil until crispy. Drain
on paper towels. In the same oil, fry potatoes about 5 minutes. Add to
soup mixture with a slotted spoon. Next, add spinach, washed to the
soup. Turn off the heat on soup. Salt, if needed.
Place avocados in a serving bowl; adding a few drops of lemon juice to
prevent discoloration.
Serve soup by placing 3 to 4 strips tortilla in the bottom of each bowl.
Pour hot soup over (be sure to get some of everything, except bay
leaves, discard them). Top with avocado and cheese.

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