(Sopas)
There’s something optimistic about a large pot of soup boiling on the stove. It speaks of warm meals, a communal table, and plenty of food to be shared. Steaming cauldrons of soup were ever-present in the cocinas (kitchens) of my Latina friends, always ready to be served to a wandering traveler or a surprise visitor on a moment’s notice.
At our family’s Mexican market, we only had one employee. Arturo was a good-natured man and a former boxer from Mexico. He would teach us boxing moves while we stocked the refrigerator with chilled beers and sodas. He invited us to dinner at his house one night.
His wife had made a big cauldron of menudo and was doling out steaming bowls of it to the huge extended family who lived with them. Their house was so small that we had to take turns eating at the tiny dining table, tucked in the corner of the kitchen. We also took turns holding the baby, washing bowls and spoons, and enjoying the warm humor of the Sandoval family.
Soups are a perfect example of the generosity of the Mexican spirit. Families often had huge copper pots (since copper is so plentiful in Mexico) filled with delicious broth, by-products of boiling meats for hours on the stove. The vegetables and spices grown nearby were added to the pot. This created the variety of regional specialties that are around today.
Often, soups are served in large bowls, with plenty of condiments on the side. Those at the table can add as much of the garnishes as they like, choosing from slices of lime to spoonfuls of Mexican crema, fistfuls of cilantro, or crumbled pieces of tortilla chips. Sometimes, fresh cheese is grated into the bowl, so that the melting goodness can add another dimension of flavor and texture to the soup. These sopas are served as a meal in and of themselves, especially great for a light cena (dinner) in the winter.
Unlike in American culture, a small bowl of broth or some kind of soup is often present in many Mexican meals, regardless of the season. Served on the side, eaten as an appetizer course, or just enjoyed as a light meal, soups are the ultimate comfort food.
So, get a pot of water boiling and be ready to ladle out some of your best soups to your friends and family.