Menudo

2 1/2 Pound Tripe
1/2 Calf's foot
1/3 Cup Vinegar
Cold water
2 Cloves garlic
1/2 Small Onion
3 Quart Water (approx.)
Salt
1-1/2 Cup Hominy
Red Chile Puree (see below) OR 1 cup canned red chili sauce
Finely chopped green onions
Chopped cilantro leaves
Lemon wedges
Corn tortillas, heated
Red Chile Puree:
8 California chilies (1/4 lb)
2/3 Cup Water

Scrape off any fat from tripe. Cut tripe into 1-inch squares. Place tripe and calf's
foot in a large bowl. Add vinegar and cold water to cover generously. Let stand 3
hours. Drain. Rinse tripe and calf's foot thoroughly. Place in a large pot. Add
garlic and onion. Pour in water to cover ingredients plus 1 to 1 1/2 inches, about 3
quarts.
Add salt to taste. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 6 hours
or until tripe is tender. After 1 hour, skim foam from surface of soup. Skim again
as needed. Add more water if liquid evaporates. Prepare Red Chile Puree. Add
hominy and Red Chile Puree during last hour of cooking. Ladle into large bowls.
Serve chopped green onions, cilantro, lemon wedges and hot corn tortillas
separately.
Makes 10 to 15 servings. Red Chile Puree: Remove stems from chilies. Break
chilies open and rinse out seeds. Place in a saucepan with water to cover. Bring to
a boil.
Continue to boil until chilies are softened, about 5 minutes. Drain; discard water.
Place chilies in blender; puree. Add enough water to make puree the consistency
of tomato sauce. Press pureed chilies through a sieve to remove bits of peel.
Makes about 1 cup.
Variation: Substitute 1 1/2 cups nixtamal (cooked dried corn) for canned hominy.
Combine with soaked tripe and calf's foot, garlic, onion and water. Cook as
directed above.