Viva La Sopa!

My husband's family seems to have this at every meal.  This is sopa (pronounced like soap with an a at the end).  It is a tomato and pasta soup that it out of this world!  After many years of marriage I have finally mastered this soup and serve it to my family about one a week.  The only problem?  The pasta is first browned in oil and the broth contains chicken bouillon.  My mother-in-law would often added spinach to it and on occassion queso fresco.  The queso fresco was my favorite part.  If you chop it into chucks and put it in the hot soup it would stay in chunks but get all melty and delicious.  Ah!!

Now that we are making the shift towards being plant based I have been trying to figure out how to make this without oil and animal products.  I set up to make a recipe that I could share.  Over the years I have never done any measurements and even still just kind of wing it.  My 6 year old son loves this soup plain with no avocado.   I added the avocado to give me the feel of the cheese that I miss so much!

Mexican Sopa with Avocado

8 roma tomatoes, cut into fourths
1/2 tsp granulated onion (sub for 1/4 fresh onion)
1/2 tsp granulated garlic (sub for 1 clove of garlic)
1 vegan bouillon cube
8 oz any kind of pasta

1. Add tomatoes, onion and garlic to blender.  Add enough water to cover the tomatoes.  Blend until smooth.  Grab a large bowl and place a colander inside.  Strain the tomato mixture through the colander.  You want to give it some shakes to get all the liquid out.  Set aside.

2. Heat a large pot on the stove.  Add the pasta and toast the pasta, constantly stirring.  You will want it to be a light brown.  Make sure that you stay close... it can burn very quickly.

3.  Once the pasta is browned add the tomato liquid.  Be careful... this will steam and boil quickly.  Add the bouillon cube and stir to combine.  Bring to a boil and then turn to low and cook for about 15 minutes.

4.  After 15 minutes check to see if the pasta is done.  If you need more water add some now.  Check the flavor and add some salt or more bouillon to taste.  Top with chopped avocado or leave plain!

** This broth is the great beginnings of any sort of vegetable soup.  Add your favorite and go crazy.