Sopa de mi Abuela Con Tortitas

Ingredients

For the Bean Soup

• 3 lbs Central American red silk beans
• 6 qts water
• 2 -3 lbs beef meat with bones like ribs, neck bones, bone marrow
• 1 large red onion, diced
• 2 large green bell pepper, diced
• 1 cube of beef bouillon
• 3 bay leaves
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp whole oregano leaves
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp ground cilantro
• 2 tbsp salt and pepper
• 4 eggs, cracked and whisked
• ½ cup crema or sour cream
• 4 avocados, halved

For the Fried Corn Flour and Cheese Patties

• 1 cup corn flour
• 1½ cup Salvadoran hard cheese or queso fresco
• 2½ cup warm water
• 1 garlic clove
• ½ teaspoon achiote
• 2-3 cup vegetable oil

Instructions

1. 1
   Rinse the beans in a colander and set aside. Next, rinse the meat and dry with a paper towel.
2. 2
   Add beans and meat into a pressure cooker along with spices, onion, bell peppers, and beef bouillon. Add the water and turn on the pressure cooker on high for 50 minutes.
3. 3
   Add the Salvadoran hard cheese into a blender and mix until it resembles sand. Set aside ½ cup for garnish.
4. 4
   In a mixing bowl add corn flour, 1 cup of the Salvadoran hard cheese, 2 cups of warm water, achiote, and mix well by hand for about 5 minutes. Mix should resemble a playdough. If it’s too dry, add more warm water as needed. Once your dough is ready, let rest for 5 minutes.
5. 5
   To form patties, take about 1½ tablespoon of dough and form into little balls, then flatten them down with palms of hands to resemble a thick patty. Next, make a little dent in the middle using your finger.
6. 6
   In a large skillet, add oil and turn on medium heat. Next, gently add the dough patties to fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden brown.
7. 7
   Once beans and meat are cooked, check for seasonings. Adjust salt or spices as desired. Next, beat the 4 eggs and add them to the pressure cooker liquid while hot whisking into the mixture.
8. 8
   For serving, add the soup with broth, beans, meat on the bones into a bowl with fried patty on the side. Add a dollop of crema, a sprinkle of Salvadoran cheese, and half of an avocado.