tbentley.com

from The New York Times

Ingredients

• 2 jalapeños
• 2 limes, halved
• Kosher salt and black pepper
• Large pinch of granulated sugar or a drop of honey
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 large Spanish or white onion, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ teaspoon chili powder, plus more for garnish
• 2 ½ pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 quart vegetable broth
• 2 cups grated Cheddar (8 ounces), plus more for garnish
• 1 cup half-and-half, or use 1/2 cup whole milk and 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 3 scallions, white and light green parts, thinly sliced
• Chopped cilantro, for serving

Preparation

1. Thinly slice the jalapeños, discarding the seeds if you like. Put slices in a bowl and squeeze in enough lime juice to cover them. Add a pinch each of salt and sugar. Let sit at room temperature while you make the soup. (The jalapeños can be prepared up to 5 days ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator; they get softer and more pickle-y as they sit.)
2. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add onion, celery and a large pinch of salt, and sauté until lightly golden and soft, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and chili powder and sauté until fragrant, 1 minute.
3. Add potatoes, broth and 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a simmer. Cook until potatoes are very tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
4. Using an immersion blender or transferring the soup to a regular blender in batches, purée the soup, adding some water as needed to thin it out. (The soup can be as thick or brothy as you like.)
5. Return the soup to the pot if you removed it and reduce heat to medium-low. Add cheese and half-and-half, and cook at a very gentle simmer, stirring, until the cheese melts, 1 to 2 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
6. Top each bowl with pickled jalapeños, plus a drizzle of their pickling liquid and a pinch of chili powder, along with scallions, cilantro and more Cheddar.

from Taste Of Home (revised)

Ingredients

• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup minced fresh basil
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• White pepper to taste
• 3 cups milk
• 1/2 cup sour cream

Pozole Verde

2 poblano peppers
1 small jalapeño
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 small yellow onion (about 4 ounces), sliced
2 garlic cloves, sliced
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves and stems
1 (14-ounce) can tomatillos, drained
3 cups water, plus more as needed
1 (25-ounce) can hominy, drained
Kosher salt, to taste
Shredded cabbage, diced avocado, sliced radishes, cilantro sprigs and lime wedges, for garnish and serving

wear gloves and mask while handling peppers

Char the peppers
transfer them to a paper bag and fold it up tight
Peel and seed the peppers, then roughly chop them.

In a large pot over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil until it shimmers. Add the onion, garlic, cilantro and chopped charred peppers and cook until the onion appears translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the tomatillos and cook for about 2 minutes. Add the water and cumin, lower the heat to medium and simmer for about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Using a stick blender, puree until smooth. (If using a standing blender, puree in batches as needed to avoid overflow.) Return the pot to medium-high heat and add the drained hominy. Simmer for another 10 minutes, then adjust the consistency with more water, if desired, and taste and season with salt, if desired. Serve in bowls and top with shredded cabbage, diced avocado, sliced radishes, cilantro sprigs and lime wedges.