Tomatillo and sweet potato soup.

Another brilliant evening of eating courtesy of S. He's been clamoring and clamoring for this soup since August, but I kept putting him off. I'd frankly forgotten how good it is, and besides, it always seemed too autumnal a recipe for the weather. But today he got the chance to make it himself, and it was delectable. Why on earth did I ever resist? Now I am as unto a taut little water balloon of soup.

The recipe is adapted from The New Vegetarian Epicure. The original features squash, which I am sure is also good, but it would be more of a pain in the ass to prep. And why bother, when this easier version is so outstanding?

TOMATILLO AND SWEET POTATO SOUP

10-12 tomatillos, husked and halved
8 large cloves garlic
6 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 medium onion, chopped
olive oil
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1" cubes
4 c. vegetable broth
2 c. water
hot sauce
sumac
salt
pepper
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped

Roast the tomatillos, garlic, and tomatoes at 450° for about forty-five minutes. While these cook, peel and chop up the sweet potatoes, then set them a-boilin' in the broth and water. Cooking that also takes about 45 minutes; while it goes, sauté onion in a little bit of olive oil until it is golden. Press the tomatillos and cherry tomatoes and garlic through a strainer to get rid of the skins, or whirl in a blender or food processor. Throw the roasted vegetables and the onion into the pot with the sweet potato, and add two hefty squirts of magic rooster hot sauce, two pinches sumac, salt and pepper, and the cilantro. After letting everything combine for about ten minutes, mash up some of the sweet potato with a potato masher.

Comments

[Robert]

Glad to see you've opened comments. I can't actually remember whether I emailed you, but in the event I didn't, I enjoy your site.

Thanks.

[redfox]

Thanks very much. I always find it shocking to think that anyone's actually reading this, let alone enjoying it. I like yours, too.

[maureen]

I happened upon this page when I had all the ingredients for this soup except cilantro at hand. (WOW!) I have just finished making it with a few changes. I sweated the onions, garlic, tomatoes and tomatillos in the olive oil, to save energy, then adding the potatoes and h2o. I blended it smooth....very delightful!

I'm tempted to sprinkle zaatar on top when I serve it

Thank you for having recipes using sumac on your site, also for helping me use the end of my garden harvest.....I live on the Central Coast of California and my tomatoes and tomatillos just won't quite this year!

maureen

ps: do you ever use dried mango powder?

[Leila]

We're going to try this for dinner tonight! I came across the Campbell's version at the grocery store and thought, this sounds good - then read the nutrition info. Loaded with fat, sodium, and who knows what else. Then thought, there must be a better way to make this! and went in search of a recipe. Thank you for posting this! and find your site entertaining also :)