Sopa Azteca (Tortilla Soup)

Bahan-bahan (3 porsi)

• 2 large dried pasilla chiles (or dried ancho chiles*), stemmed and seeded
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium white or yellow onion, peeled and diced
• 4 large cloves garlic, minced
• 1 3/4 pounds Roma tomatoes, diced (or 28 ounces canned diced tomatoes*, with their juices)
• 8 cups good-quality vegetable or chicken stock
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 epazote sprig (optional)
• fine sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper
• fried corn tortilla strips* (or crumbled corn tortilla chips)
• diced panela cheese (or oaxaca, cotija, or any other cheese you prefer)
• diced or sliced avocado
• shredded cooked chicken
• toppings: chopped fresh cilantro, sour cream (or Mexican crema), lime wedges, fried pasilla chile strips*