Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

Step 1

Tortilla Strips: Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Step 2

Spread tortilla strips on rimmed baking sheet;drizzle with oil and toss until evenly coated.

Step 3

Place in oven, rotating pan and shaking after 7 minutes. Bake until strips are deep golden brown and crip. Transfer chips to paper towels to drain and season with salt.

Step 4

SOUP: In large sauce pan bring chicken, broth, 1/3 of quartered onions, 2 garlic cloves, cilantro and 1/2 teaspoon salt to boil over medium-heat; reduce heat and simmer until chicken is cooked, about 20 minutes. Transfer chicken to plate.

Step 5

Strain broth through fine-mesh strainer, discard solids in strainer. When cool enough to handle, shred chicken into bite-size pieces.

Step 6

Puree tomatoes, 1/2 of remaining onions, remaining garlic cloves, chipotle chile, and 1 teaspoon adobe sauce in food processor until smooth.Heat oil in dutch oven. Add puree and 1/8 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring frequently, until mixture has darkened in color, about 10 minutes.

Step 7

Stir strained broth into tomato mixture. Add poblano pepper, red peppers, zucchini and remaining quartered onions. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer to blend flavors, for about 15-20 minutes.

Step 8

Taste test. If desired add up to 2 teaspoons additional adobe sauce. Add shredded chicken and simmer until heated.

Step 9

To serve, place portions of tortilla strips in bowl and ladle soup. Pass garnishes separately.

Tips

No special items needed.

Editorial Notes

The ingredient tips, suggestions, variations, facts, questions and answers below are not edits to the original author's recipe. They are not meant to imply any change would improve the recipe. They're offered for convenience, alternative ideas, and points of interest. If you have any comments about them, please post in the Help & Ideas forum.

Ingredient substitutions

Substitute chicken for turkey to reduce fat and calories. The benefit of this substitution is that it will make the dish lighter and healthier without sacrificing flavor.
Substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth to make the dish vegetarian. The benefit of this substitution is that it will make the dish more accessible to those who follow a vegetarian diet.

Variations

Vegetarian Tortilla Soup Replace chicken broth with vegetable broth and omit chicken. Add 1 can of black beans and 1 can of corn to the soup. Garnish with crumbled queso fresco instead of Cotija cheese.

Vegan Tortilla Soup Replace chicken broth with vegan vegetable broth and omit chicken. Add 1 can of black beans, 1 can of corn, and 1 can of diced tomatoes to the soup. Garnish with diced avocado and vegan cilantro-lime cashew cream instead of Cotija cheese.

Serve with

Mexican Rice: Mexican Rice is a great accompaniment to Chicken Tortilla Soup. It's a flavorful rice dish with tomatoes, onions, garlic, and cilantro that pairs perfectly with the soup. The rice also provides a nice contrasting texture to the soup.

Black Bean Salad: Black Bean Salad is a great accompaniment to Chicken Tortilla Soup. It's a simple and flavorful salad that provides a nice contrast to the soup. The combination of black beans, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and lime juice create a delicious and refreshing dish that pairs perfectly with the soup.