The flavors in this soup come together so nicely. It's made with Plantains, Chorizo Sausage & Fresh Cilantro. The Cilantro gives the soup a wonderful fresh taste and fills your kitchen with a beautifully fragrant aroma.

Ingredients

• 2 tbs. Olive Oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 small carrots, peeled and finely chopped
• 2 small celery ribs, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 2 green plantains, peeled and thinly sliced
• 2 - 4 (about 11 oz.) Chorizo sausages
• 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped, reserve some for garnish
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• Salt & Pepper, to taste

Directions

1. In a large sauce pot on medium-high heat, add in some of the olive oil.  Then add the sliced Chorizo sausage and sauté those until they are slightly brown.  With a slotted spoon, remove and set aside.
2. In the same pot, add onions, carrots and celery.  Sauté those for about 6 minutes just to soften them a little.  During the last minute, add in the minced garlic.
3. Add the chicken broth, plantains, 1/2 cup cilantro, bay leaves, cumin and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low and gently simmer for about 40 minutes, until the plantains are very tender.
4. With a hand blender, blend the soup to your desired consistency.  But make sure you don't blend it all the way through.  You do want some pieces of vegetables in the soup.
5. Add in the chorizo sausage and the other 1/2 cup cilantro.  Season with with salt & pepper.  Garnish with cilantro.

Serves 4-6

• If you don't have a hand mixer, you can transfer half of the soup into your blender.  Just make sure you put it on a very low setting and pulse the soup, then later increase the speed and blend until smooth.  If you use the lid to the blender, it will create a vacuum effect that creates a heat explosion.  And you run the risk of the lid flying across the kitchen and splattering yourself and your kitchen with scalding hot soup.  Not a good idea!  :)  So either place the lid on the blender at an angle so air can freely escape or just place a towel over the top.
• If your soup ends up being a little too thick, just add a little bit more chicken broth or water to loosen it up.