Ecuadorian Spring Soup - Fanesca

Ingredients:

1 lb salt cod fish, optional

1 tablespoon butter

2 medium onion, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1/4 teaspoon oregano

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1 bay leaf

Fresh ground pepper

1 cup long-grain rice, cooked in

1 cup milk

1 cup water

1 cup corn kernel, cooked

2 1/2 cups cabbage, shredded and cooked

2 cups winter squash, cooked and mashed (1 small)

2 cups zucchini, chopped and cooked (2 small)

1 cup baby lima beans or fava beans, cooked

1 cup green peas, cooked

1 cup green beans, cooked

1/2 cup peanuts, ground

5 cups 2% low-fat milk

1 cup muenster cheese or queso fresco or queso blanco, shredded

1 teaspoon salt or to taste if fish is included

3 egg, hardboiled and sliced

1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Cooking Instructions:

If using, soak cod fish in cold water to cover for 12 hours or more, changing water from time to time. Drain and put in saucepan with fresh water to cover. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer until fish is tender, about 15 minutes. Drain fish, cut into 1/2 inch pieces and set aside. Preheat oven to 375-400 degrees fahrenheit. Cut winter squash in half and place cut side down on a lightly sprayed cookie sheet. Bake for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, cook rice according to package directions replacing half the water with milk (boil on very low heat about 20 minutes). Meanwhile, cook beans and vegetables according to package directions. I used frozen corn, peas, lima beans and green beans combined in same casserole dish and microwaved for 8-9 minutes. The zucchini and cabbage I steamed together for 10 minutes. Combine. Meanwhile, cook eggs until hard boiled (about 4 minutes) and set aside. Let cool, remove shell and slice. When rice is done, add to bean mixture. When winter squash is done, set aside and let cool slightly before scraping out flesh with a fork and mashing a bit. Add to beans and rice mixture. If you are making this ahead of time, place in refrigerator until ready. Heat butter in large saucepan and saute the onions and garlic until the onions are soft, about 5 minutes, Add oregano, cumin, bay leaf and several grinds of black pepper and saute for a minute or two longer. Add 1 cup water, bring to a boil and add the next 11 ingredients (rice through milk) and fish, if using. Stir to mix and simmer very gently for about 5 minutes to blend the flavors. Add chopped cheese and salt to taste. The soup should be about as thick as a minestrone. If it seems too thick, thin it with a little more milk and simmer for a few minutes longer. Garnish soup with sliced hardboiled eggs and serve with parmesan cheese.

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