Fish Soup with Chayote and Hoja Santa

Servings: 6  
From Season 9, Mexico—One Plate At A Time

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 1/2 to 2 pounds fish bones from white-fleshed fish (like sea bass, grouper or snapper), scraps attached
  • 1/2 medium white onion, roughly chopped
  • 10 garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 1 pound (2 medium large round or 5 to 6 plum) ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup dark Mexican beer (I like to use Negra Modelo)
  • 2 medium (about 1¼ pounds total) chayotes, pit removed but no need to peel, cut into ½ inch cubes
  • Salt
  • 3 (1 ounce total) dried pasilla chiles, stemmed, sliced crosswise into ¼ inch-wide rings and tossed in a bowl to remove the seeds
  • 1/4 cup torn herbs such as hoja santa, cilantro, mint or chopped fennel tops
  • 8 ounces queso fresco or other fresh cheese such as feta or goat cheese, cut into ¼ inch cubes

INSTRUCTIONS

In a very large (8-10 quart) stockpot set over medium high, combine the fish bones, onion, 5 of the garlic cloves and 3 ½ quarts of water. Bring the mixture to a boil, skim off all the grayish foam that rises during the first few minutes, then lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain through a medium mesh strainer into a large bowl; discard the solids.

Place the tomatoes and the remaining garlic cloves in a blender or food processor and process until smooth. Measure 1 tablespoon of the oil in the stockpot over medium-high and when hot add the tomato puree (it should sizzle immediately). Cook, stirring, until it thickens to the consistency of tomato paste, about 15 minutes. Stir in the beer, the fish broth and the chayote. Simmer until the chayote is tender, about 7 minutes, and season with salt (usually 4 teaspoons).

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of the oil in a medium (8-inch) skillet set over medium. When hot, add the chile rings and toast until just fragrant, about 15 seconds. Remove the chiles with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Just before serving the soup, stir in the hoja santa (or fennel tops) and divide it among 6 bowls. Top each serving with a spoonful of chiles and a few cubes of cheese, and serve.