Shrimp, Ancho Chile, and Pasta Soup (Sopa seca de Camarones y Fideos)
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Annabelle Breakey; Dan Becker
Fideos (vermicelli) are much loved in Mexico, where they form the basis of thick, delicious soups. Usually the soups are served as a first course, but our hearty shrimp version is a meal in a bowl. Prep and Cook Time: about 35 minutes. Notes: Good dried chiles are soft, flexible, and smell a bit like prunes. Avoid hard, brittle specimens—they're old and less flavorful.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Break stems off chiles and shake out seeds. In a small bowl, cover chiles with hot water and let stand until softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain and coarsely chop.
Step 2
2
Meanwhile, pour olive oil into a 12-in. nonstick frying pan over medium-low heat. Add pasta; stir and turn often with tongs until almost golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in anise and cumin seeds, onion, and garlic. Lift pasta so it mostly sits on top of onion mixture, then cook onion mixture, stirring often, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes.
Step 3
3
Stir in chiles and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer over high heat, then reduce heat to medium and simmer, 3 minutes; add shrimp and simmer until pasta is tender to the bite, 3 to 4 minutes more. Season to taste with salt.
Step 4
4
Spoon soup into wide, shallow bowls. Top each serving with a spoonful of sour cream and some avocado, if you like, and sprinkle with cilantro.
Step 5
5
How Hot Is Your Chile? To assess a chile's heat, slice off its top through the ribs and seeds, where the heat-producing compound capsaicin is concentrated. Touch the slice to your tongue. If you want your food to be milder, split the chile and scrape out all or some of the ribs and seeds. If your skin is sensitive, wear kitchen gloves or hold the chiles with a fork—and don't touch your eyes.
Step 6
6
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
Ingredients
2 dried ancho or pasilla chiles (each 4 to 5 in. long; see Notes and
3 tablespoons olive oil
6 ounces dried vermicelli or fideos, broken in thirds
1/2 teaspoon anise seeds
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 medium onion, chopped
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 quart reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 pound (30 to 35 per lb.) peeled, deveined shrimp, tails left on
Kosher salt
1/2 cup sour cream (optional)
Diced avocado (optional)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Directions
Step 1
1
Break stems off chiles and shake out seeds. In a small bowl, cover chiles with hot water and let stand until softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain and coarsely chop.
Step 2
2
Meanwhile, pour olive oil into a 12-in. nonstick frying pan over medium-low heat. Add pasta; stir and turn often with tongs until almost golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in anise and cumin seeds, onion, and garlic. Lift pasta so it mostly sits on top of onion mixture, then cook onion mixture, stirring often, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes.
Step 3
3
Stir in chiles and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer over high heat, then reduce heat to medium and simmer, 3 minutes; add shrimp and simmer until pasta is tender to the bite, 3 to 4 minutes more. Season to taste with salt.
Step 4
4
Spoon soup into wide, shallow bowls. Top each serving with a spoonful of sour cream and some avocado, if you like, and sprinkle with cilantro.
Step 5
5
How Hot Is Your Chile? To assess a chile's heat, slice off its top through the ribs and seeds, where the heat-producing compound capsaicin is concentrated. Touch the slice to your tongue. If you want your food to be milder, split the chile and scrape out all or some of the ribs and seeds. If your skin is sensitive, wear kitchen gloves or hold the chiles with a fork—and don't touch your eyes.
Step 6
6
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
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