Ajiaco (Potato, Chicken and Sweet Corn Soup)

This is Colombia's national dish. It's a hearty soup, sure to fulfill your cravings for some comfort food on a blustery cold day. You can even freeze the leftovers, it tastes better the next day.

Makes 8 servings

Prep time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 3 hours
Ready in: 3:30 hours

Ingredients:

1 whole chicken
3 qt. water
1 medium onion cut in half
2 large carrots cut in 3 or 4 large pieces
2 celery stalks cut in 3 or 4 large pieces
2 cloves of garlic
3 bay leafs
1 tsp salt
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro whole
1 lb russet potatoes diced in 3/4 inch cubes
1 lb red potatoes diced in 3/4 inch cubes
1 lb Yukon gold potatoes diced in 3/4 inch cubes
4 ears of corn cut in 4 each
freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Garnish with:

Mexican cream
grated fresh cheese (farmer's cheese)
capers
fresh avocado, sliced
fresh cilantro finely chopped


Instructions:

Fill a large pot with water.  Add the chicken, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaf, salt, and cilantro stalks. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to a simmer and let it cook for about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. This makes the broth which is the base for this soup.

Remove the chicken from the broth along with the bay leaf. Set aside to cool. When cool enough to handle, shred the chicken meat into bite-size pieces.

While the chicken is cooling, blend the vegetables into some of the broth (with a blender or hand-blender), then strain them to remove any large pieces or strings from the celery.  Put the blended mixture back into the pot. Add the potatoes, the ears of corn, and the pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low, and let it simmer for 30 minutes, or until some of the potatoes start to disintegrate.

Before serving, arrange the garnishes in individual serving plates or bowls and set on the table. When the soup is ready remove from heat and put in a pretty soup tureen.   Ladle the soup into bowls that have some of the shredded chicken in them and serve.  Invite each diner to add the garnishes to the soup; a teaspoonful of cream, fresh cheese, capers, sliced avocado, and chopped cilantro.  Enjoy!