Calabacitas Cheese Soup Recipes

CREAM OF ZUCCHINI SOUP

Steps:

• Place chopped zucchini or squash in a skillet, add one cup of water, and cover. Turn heat to medium-high; once it starts boiling, reduce heat to low. Keep cooking until zucchini or squash is tender, but not overcook. It should look firm and still have a bright color. This step will take about 8 minutes total.
• While the vegetables are cooking, heat butter and oil in a medium-size saucepan over medium heat until butter is melting. Add the onion and garlic and cook until transparent, about 2 minutes.
• Add flour and stir until flour has a light golden color. Pour milk and chicken broth into the saucepan and stir to dissolve the flour mixture, about one minute.
• Remove zucchini/squash from skillet and drain any liquid left. Place into a blender with the milk combination. Process until you have a fine mixture.
• Pour this mixture into the saucepan and turn the heat to medium. Keep cooking, stirring from time to time. Let it simmer on a warm heat setting for about 6-8 minutes until soup starts to thicken. Season with salt and pepper.

CALABACITAS SOUP

Steps:

• Give the tomatoes a good rinse and roast them in the oven at 400F for 20 minutes or so. I usually de-stem them knowing that any juices leftover in the roasting pan will go in the blender.
• Saute a roughly chopped onion and 3 whole, peeled garlic cloves in a glug of oil over medium heat. When the onion starts to turn brown (approx. 6-8 minutes) add the mixture to a blender or food processor along with the roasted tomatoes and 1/4 or 1/2 of the jalapeno. Combine well and taste for heat, adding more jalapeno for more heat. I like this dish best with only mild heat so I used only 1/2 of the jalapeno.
• Finely chop 1/2 onion and get it cooking in some oil over medium heat.
• As the onion cooks you can prep the zucchini. Give the zucchinis a good rinse and cut them up into 1/4" sized pieces -- be sure to cut off the ends and discard.
• When the onion starts to brown add two minced garlic cloves and cook for 30-60 seconds. Add the chopped zucchini to the onion-garlic mixture in the pan, along with 1 teaspoon salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and 2 teaspoons Mexican oregano. Stir well and let it saute briefly.
• Add the tomato mixture from the blender to the pan. I usually let this cook for a couple minutes, then adding in 5 cups of stock along with 2 cups of corn. Note: I used a single can of corn, drained and rinsed, but if using fresh corn you can add it in when you add the zucchini.
• Bring this up to a simmer and take a final taste for seasoning. I added another generous pinch of salt to this batch, so that is close to 1.5 teaspoons total for this batch, but keep in mind this will vary based on which stock you're using.
• Serve immediately with your choice of fixings. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

CALABACITAS

Steps:

• Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, bell pepper, onion, and zucchini, and cook until the zucchini begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the salt, pepper, half and half, and corn. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and sprinkle Monterey Jack cheese over top. Replace the cover on the skillet and allow to sit until the cheese melts, 2 to 3 minutes.

CALABACITAS CHEESE SOUP

Steps:

• Saute onion and garlic in 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• Add oregano, chicken broth and tomatoes.
• Cover and bring to a boil.
• Stir in squash, corn and green chilies.
• Return to boil and simmer till squash is tender.
• Stir in Velveeta, salt, pepper and cilantro.

MEXICAN CALABACITAS

Steps:

• Place oil and chopped garlic in a large skillet, over medium heat.
• Add zucchini and onion, cooking until onion is tender.
• Add corn and tomatoes.
• Cover skillet, and simmer over low heat 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• When mixture is well heated, add cheese, mix and serve.