MENUDO (BEEF TRIPE SOUP)

MENUDO (BEEF TRIPE SOUP) image

Yield 8 people

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 calf's foot (about 1 to 1 1/2 pounds)
2 pounds honeycomb tripe
1 large onion
3 cloves garlic, peeled
6 peppercorns
2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
4 quarts of water
3 large chiles anchos
1 large chile poblano, peeled or 2 canned, peeled green chiles
1/2 cup canned hominy (1 pound) drained
1 scant teaspoon oregano
2 whole limes
1 cup chopped cilantro

Steps:

Have the butcher cut the calf's foot into four pieces. Cut the tripe into 1 inch squares. Put them into a 8 quart pot with the rest of the ingredients. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Lower the flame and simmer uncovered for about 2 hours, or until the tripe and foot are just tender but not too soft. Meanwhile, toast the chilies well. Slit them open and remove the seeds and veins from the chile poblano, cut it into strips, and add to the meat while it is cooking. Remove the pieces of calf's foot from the pen, and when they are cool enough to handle, strip off the fleshy parts. Chop them roughly and return them to the pan. Add hominy and continue cooking the menudo slowly, still uncovered, for another 2 hours. Add salt as necessary. Sprinkle with oregano and serve with chopped onion, cilantro and lime on the side.