Tortilla Soup

Tortilla Soup

What makes this 30-minute soup so special are the condiments that are served with the broth.  Be adventurous and use this recipe as your platform.  Consider adding freshly cut corn, black beans, cubed zucchini or sliced Serrano chiles.  While I recommend frying your own tortilla strips, to save time, crumble in good quality, store bought tortilla chips instead.

Serves 6

1/4 cup vegetable or peanut oil

1 white onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon Chipotle chili powder, or to taste

1 teaspoon Chipotle abobo sauce (from canned chipotle chilis), optional

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano

3 cups chopped tomatoes, peeled and seeded, fresh or canned

6 cups chicken broth, divided, canned is fine (see recipe)

3 cups shredded cooked chicken

Condiments

Fried Tortilla Chips (see instructions below)

Crumbled Queso Ranchero

Grated Jack cheese

Avocado cubes

Sliced radishes

Shredded cabbage

Fresh Salsa

Chopped Cilantro

Lime Wedges

Warm the oil in a saucepan over medium heat; add onion and garlic and saute for three minutes.  Add Chipotle chili powder and continue to cook until onion is translucent, about three more minutes.  Add tomatoes and cook for two minutes. 

Add one cup of broth and bring to a boil.  Turn off heat and let cool.  Blend the soup base until well pureed.  Place back into the saucepan and add remaining broth.  Add chicken and reheat.

For serving, place condiments in decorative bowls.  Let each individual place their chosen toppings into their bowl.  Ladle hot soup over condiments and enjoy.

Tortilla Strips

10 corn tortillas

Canola or peanut oil for frying

Cut the tortilla in half then cut the halves into strips.  Heat the oil to 350 degrees or until a strip starts to sizzle and crisp.  Add in a handful of strips into the oil and cook until crisp, about 3 minutes, stirring periodically.  Remove from oil onto a papertowel or a rack over a cookie sheet.  Salt while hot.  Repeat until tortillas are done.  May be done earlier and stored in an airtight container after the strips have cooled.