Oaxacan · Soup

Caldo de Pata

Name: Caldo de Pata
Total time: 4 h 50 min
Yield: Serves 4 to 6
Cuisine: Oaxacan
Ingredients: 2.8 L water, 3 generous quarts; 2 tbsp sea salt; 1.2 kg cow foot, sliced by the butcher (about 2 1/2 lb); 1 small white onion, cut into wedges, half for the broth and half for the purée; ½ head garlic, about 6 cloves, halved crosswise, for the broth; 5 cloves garlic, peeled (about 15 g); 30 g dried guajillo chiles, stems removed (about 6); 480 ml water, for soaking the chiles; 75 g tomatillos, husked and rinsed (about 1/2 cup); 4 whole cloves, freshly ground; 1 tsp cumin seeds, freshly ground; ¼ tsp black peppercorns, freshly ground; corn tortillas, warm, for serving, to taste; fresh cilantro, minced, to taste; white onion, minced, to taste; limes, cut into wedges, to taste

Cow foot simmered four to six hours into a gelatinous, collagen-rich broth, then lifted with a strained purée of guajillo, tomatillo, garlic and toasted spices. Served with tortillas, cilantro, onion and lime.

YieldServes 4 to 6
Hands-on50 min
Total4 h 50 min
Difficulty

Ingredients

Broth

2.8 Lwater, 3 generous quarts
2 tbspsea salt
1.2 kgcow foot, sliced by the butcher (about 2 1/2 lb)
1small white onion, cut into wedges, half for the broth and half for the purée
½ headgarlic, about 6 cloves, halved crosswise, for the broth

Chile purée

5 clovesgarlic, peeled (about 15 g)
30 gdried guajillo chiles, stems removed (about 6)
480 mlwater, for soaking the chiles
75 gtomatillos, husked and rinsed (about 1/2 cup)
4whole cloves, freshly ground
1 tspcumin seeds, freshly ground
¼ tspblack peppercorns, freshly ground

Garnishes

to tastecorn tortillas, warm, for serving
to tastefresh cilantro, minced
to tastewhite onion, minced
to tastelimes, cut into wedges

Contains

Corn (maize)
Citrus fruits (any)
Lime
Nightshades (any)
Chili peppers
Tomatillo
Onion family (any)
Onion
Garlic
Cilantro / coriander
Black and white pepper
Clove
Cumin
All mammal meat (alpha-gal)
Beef and veal
Gelatin
Chili heat (capsaicin)

Taste

Heat
Sour / bright
Salty
Umami / savory
Richness / fat
Herbal / fresh
Aromatic spice

Texture

Tender-braised
Brothy

Equipment

Stovetop
Blender

Season

Fall
Winter

Occasion

Weekend project

Effort

45–90 min active
Over 3 hours total
Difficulty 2
Make-ahead friendly
Leftovers-friendly

Nutrition

Calories: low
Protein: moderate
Carbs: low
Fat: low
Fiber: low
Sodium: high

Budget

Budget: low

What it costs to shop for

Members can download a cost breakdown for any recipe in Excel: what to buy after trimming, how many packages, and the cost per serving, scaled to however many you’re cooking for.

Method

The method is for members

The timed method (mise en place, a cook timeline with minutes per step, and cook mode with timers) is delivered to members in their packages, adapted to how they cook.

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