0 from 15 votes
Chacales Corn Soup
Once you get your hands on the dried, cracked corn, this soup is easy to make. See the headnotes above for ways to get chacales, and for alternatives.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
2 hrs
Total Time
2 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 262 kcal
Course:
Main Course , Appetizer , Soup , Lunch
Cuisine:
Mexican
Ingredients
- 8 ounces chacales, or other cracked corn
- salt
- 3 tablespoons lard, bacon fat or vegetable oil1
- 1 white onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
- 1 28- ounce can, whole, peeled tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/2 pound grated melty cheese (asadero, chihuahua, mozzarella, "Mexican blend")
- 2 limes, cut in wedges
Instructions
- Boil the corn in plenty of water until it's chewy, but pleasantly so, about 1 hour. Add salt late in the cooking process, about 30 to 45 minutes in.
- When the corn is mostly ready, fry the onions in the lard or bacon fat over medium heat until transparent, and just a little brown on the edges. Add the garlic and cook another minute more.
- Usually the water level in the boiling corn has reduced enough to be a nice soup consistency. You want it milky looking and covering the corn by about 1 inch. If there's too much water, drain some. If not enough, add some. Scrape the onions and garlic into this pot and continue to simmer.
- Hand crush the peeled tomatoes into the pot. Add the tomato juice from the can if you'd like. Stir in the oregano. Let all this cook for 10 minutes, and add salt if needed.
- Stir in the cilantro, and bring the soup to a rolling boil. Ladle it out very hot into bowls and add the grated cheese on top, for everyone to stir in. Serve with lime wedges and hot sauce on the side.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- You can buy chicos from New Mexico online, which are very close to Mexican chacales.
- If you want to go the red salsa route for the soup instead of, or in addition to, the tomatoes, use the red sauce from my enchiladas rojas recipe.
Nutrition Information
Calories
262kcal
(13%)
Carbohydrates
13g
(4%)
Protein
12g
(24%)
Fat
19g
(29%)
Saturated Fat
10g
(50%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
7g
Cholesterol
40mg
(13%)
Sodium
512mg
(21%)
Potassium
380mg
(11%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
6g
(12%)
Vitamin A
564IU
(11%)
Vitamin C
15mg
(17%)
Calcium
338mg
(34%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 262
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 262kcal | 13% |
| Carbohydrates | 13g | 4% |
| Protein | 12g | 24% |
| Fat | 19g | 29% |
| Saturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Cholesterol | 40mg | 13% |
| Sodium | 512mg | 21% |
| Potassium | 380mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 564IU | 11% |
| Vitamin C | 15mg | 17% |
| Calcium | 338mg | 34% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.