海角大神

Quick tortilla chicken soup

Tortilla soup is a one-dish recipe for an easy and healthy weeknight supper.

Tortilla chicken soup with chipotle peppers to add flavor, heat, and smoke.

Three Many Cooks

October 26, 2011

In the past when I鈥檝e needed a quick soup, I鈥檝e often turned to ramen noodles (subbing chicken broth for the flavoring packet and water). I鈥檝e got a new favorite now, and it鈥檚 just about as simple. Tortilla soup makes a fun and healthy (if you don鈥檛 overdo the toppings) one-dish weeknight supper. I鈥檝e made a large pot for good reason. Those leftovers make a wonderful instant lunch the next day.

Tips:

  • To speed the cooking process, heat the broth in the microwave while the onions and garlic are cooking.
  • The chipotle peppers add flavor, heat, and smoke. They鈥檙e usually located in the Mexican section or Hispanic aisle of the grocery store.

To watch a related video, click .

Quick Tortilla Chicken Soup
Serves 6 to 8

Top soup with any or all of the following: grated pepper Jack cheese, diced avocados, light sour cream, chopped fresh cilantro, hot red pepper sauce.

1 pound (2 large) boneless chicken breasts, halved cross-wise to form two thin cutlets
1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil, separated
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 large onion, cut into medium dice
4 large garlic cloves, crushed
2 tablespoons canned chipotle peppers in adobo, minced
2 quarts low-sodium chicken broth
1 can diced tomatoes (fire-roasted if you can find them)
2 cans black beans, not drained
6 ounces tortilla strips
1 lime, cut into eighths

Heat a Dutch oven or soup kettle over medium-high heat. Toss chicken with 1-1/2 teaspoons of the oil, salt, and chili powder to coat. Add chicken to hot pot; cook, turning only once, until impressively brown on both sides, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate and cut (or shred when cool enough to handle) into bite-size pieces.

Heat remaining tablespoon of oil in the hot empty pot; add onions and saute until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and peppers; continue to saut茅 until fragrant, about a minute longer. Add chicken broth, tomatoes, and black beans. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low and simmer partially covered and skimming foam as it surfaces, to blend flavors, about 5 minutes.Stir in chicken and turn off heat.

Place a portion of tortilla strips in each bowl, ladle over hot soup, and top as desired, letting each person squirt in a little lime.

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