Serves: 8
Sweet Potato Soup:
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1 pound smoked pork bones or ham
1 pound onions, peeled and diced medium
1 each jalapeno, seeded and diced
2 each bay leaves
1 each cinnamon stick, 4-inches long
3 cloves garlic, sliced
1/4 pound poblano peppers, seeded and diced
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 cup dry white wine
2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and diced medium
7 cups chicken stock
Kosher salt to taste
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
Tomatillo Garnish:
1-1/2 pounds tomatillos, husked and cut into small wedges
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
Salt and pepper to taste
2 each jalapeno peppers, seeded and very finely diced
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons sugar
Finish:
1 cup coarsely chopped cilantro leaves
For the Sweet Potato Soup:
Heat the grapeseed oil over medium-high heat. Add the smoked pork bones and render for 3 minutes. Add the onions, jalapeno, bay leaves, cinnamon stick, garlic and poblanos and sweat for 5 minutes. Add the coriander and saute for an additional minute. Add the wine and cook until mixture is reduced by 2/3. Add the potatoes and stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, until the potatoes are very tender. Remove bay leaves, cinnamon stick and pork bones. (Pick meat from pork bones and reserve as an additional garnish if desired.) Puree the soup mixture in a blender. Add salt and pepper to taste. Keep warm while preparing tomatillo garnish.
For the Tomatillo Garnish:
Heat a saute pan over high heat. In a large bowl, toss the tomatillos with the oil and then season with salt and pepper. Add the tomatillo mixture to the heated pan and sear for 1 minute. Add the jalapenos and cook for 30 seconds. Add the lime juice and sugar and cook until the mixture is reduced by 1/2.
To Finish and Serve:
Divide the tomatillos between eight serving bowls. Sprinkle the cilantro leaves in each bowl. Ladle the hot soup over the leaves and around the tomatillos and serve.
Optional:
Use meat from pork bones, minced finely, as an additional garnish for the soup.