Serves6
- Active time:50 min
- Start to finish:2 1/2 hr
Crema—a Mexican cultured heavy cream similar to sour cream—is often drizzled over enchiladas and tostadas and added to side dishes and sauces. Here it lends a tangy balance to rich avocado and sweet corn.
May 2005
For soup
-
1
fresh or frozen ear of corn, shucked
-
4
cups
plus 2 tablespoons water
-
1
garlic clove, smashed
-
1 1/2
teaspoons
salt
-
1 1/4
cups
chopped white onion
-
1
fresh serrano chile, stemmed and coarsely chopped (including seeds)
-
2
firm-ripe California avocados (1 to 1 1/4 lb total)
-
3
tablespoons
fresh lime juice
-
1/4
cup
crema or sour cream
For cilantro oil
-
1
cup
coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
-
1/4
cup
olive oil
-
1/2
teaspoon
salt
Make soup:
-
Roast corn on rack of gas burner over high heat, turning occasionally with tongs, until kernels are charred in spots, 4 to 5 minutes. (Alternatively, heat a dry well-seasoned cast-iron skillet and roast corn over moderately high heat, turning occasionally, about 10 minutes.) Transfer corn to a cutting board and, when cool enough to handle, cut kernels from cob with a sharp knife, then cut cob into thirds.
-
Bring kernels, cob pieces, 4 cups water, garlic, salt, and 1/2 cup onion to a boil in a 3-quart saucepan and boil until liquid is reduced to about 3 cups, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and cool, uncovered. Discard cob pieces.
-
Purée corn mixture along with chile and remaining 3/4 cup onion in a blender, then pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing hard on and then discarding solids. Return broth to cleaned blender.
-
Quarter, pit, and peel 1 avocado, then add to blender with 2 tablespoons lime juice and purée until smooth. Transfer soup to a bowl and cover surface with plastic wrap. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill soup at least 1 hour.
Prepare cilantro oil while soup chills:
-
Purée cilantro, oil, and salt in cleaned blender, scraping down sides of blender several times. Pour oil into cleaned fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl and let drain 15 minutes (do not press on solids). Discard solids.
Assemble soup:
-
Halve and pit remaining avocado and scoop small balls from flesh with melon-ball cutter, then toss gently with remaining tablespoon lime juice in a bowl.
-
Whisk together crema and remaining 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl until smooth.
-
Season soup with salt and ladle into 6 shallow soup bowls. Divide avocado balls among bowls, then drizzle with crema and cilantro oil.
Cooks' notes: - Soup can be chilled up to 1 day.
- Cilantro oil can be made 3 hours ahead and chilled, covered.
