Sweet Potato Soup

[Ozish Girl]

Tonight I decided to pull out a random recipe from my files to try.  This is what I grabbed.  I kinda went with a 'wing it' approach and didn't really measure, but OMG is this DELICIOUS!
(My comments are in parenthesis.)

Jalapeno Sweet Potato Soup
Makes: about 14 Cups (according to the original)
1½ hours total, 20 min prep (didn't take me but 45 minutes or so in my cast iron wok)
 
3 slices bacon, finely chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tablespoons butter (I used olive oil instead)
3 cloves garlic, sliced
4 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
8 cups chicken broth (I didn't need nearly this much, but I have no idea how much sweet potatoes I started out with either)
1/4 cup pickled jalapeno peppers, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons jalapeno juice
1 teaspoon comino (cumin)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda (I didn't use this.  I don't know what it supposed to do, but it didn't need anything salty when I tasted it so I left it out.)
1/2 cup cilantro leaves
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt (I left this out too, since the salt in the broth was plenty enough.)
1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground


1.In a large stock pot, saute bacon and onion in butter until just tender.
2.Add garlic and cook about 2 more minutes.
3.Add sweet potatoes, chicken broth, pickled jalapeños, jalapeño juice and comino.
4.Cover and cook until potatoes are tender, approx. 20 to 30 minutes.
5.When done, add soda, cilantro and milk. (I did step 6 before this so it wasn't as messy.)
6.Coarsely mash potatoes with a potato masher.
7.Stir well and re-adjust salt and pepper.
8.Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring frequently.
9.NOTE: You may garnish with sour cream and 3 or 4 fresh jalapeños, cut in thin lengthwise strips.

[Taf]

Swap the jalapenos for something hotter and you could invite me over for lunch!

[Spite]

  I'll be trying that recipe. 

[Ozish Girl]

That's the beauty of home cooking!  Swap around whatever you'd like!   Dinner's at 7 EST.

[Lisa]

i'm there!

[Izzy]

KUMURA!!!!

[Ozish Girl]

   Had to look that one up!

Quite a nice twist on what I'm used to from around here.  Where I grew up, It nearly always came in a can, got warmed on the stove, had some marshmallows melted over top of it, and that was as creative as it got.  Where I am now it's nearly always served in a pie, sickeningly sweet and with a few nuts occasionally.  That's about as boring as what I grew up with.  Thankfully, since there are locally grown fresh ones available here, I'm able to experiment with them a bit.

[Izzy]

In a can? With marshmallows? Oooh I don't know if that sounds right
We always have it as roasties and I also make this delicious Cheesy Kumura Bake - delicious!

[Mojo]

That sounds good! Cheers, Ozish!

[cowleen]

  :)that sounds so good and really healthy to I will be trying this one real soon thnks!!