Chicken Tortilla Soup

This recipe is super simple but looks like you've really done something fancy!  The other thing is... don't think you're going to have this as "just an appetizer" and then expect to eat dinner afterwards, because it's quite a full, satisfying, filling meal all on it's own! It's also too yummy to eat just a small cup of it!



Chicken Tortilla Soup

 Ingredients:
1 short       can sweet corn niblets
5 lg            garlic cloves, peeled
1 sm          onion (about 3 ounces), peeled, trimmed and quartered
2 sm          jalapeño peppers, trimmed and seeded
2 Tbsp       corn oil
1 pack       boneless skinless chicken breast (about 1 - 1.25 pounds)
2                corn tortillas, cut into 1-inch squares
1 can (4oz) diced chili peppers
1 can (14oz) diced tomatoes
3 Tbsp        tomato paste
1 Tbsp        ground cumin
1 box          chicken stock (I use Swanson's low sodium)
to taste       kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Garnish:
2 corn tortillas, cut into strips, fried to crispness, and salted
1 ripe avocado, diced
1/2 cup grated Monterrey jack with jalapeños
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Method:

• Coarsely chop the garlic, onion, jalapeño pepper and corn kernels. Reserve. 
• In a large soup pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat and sear the chicken until just browned on both sides.
• To the soup pot, add the tortilla squares, and cook over low heat until they are slightly crisp.
• Stir in the chopped vegetable mixture and chili peppers and simmer just until the vegetables are coated with the oil. Do not brown. 
• Add the tomatoes, tomato paste and cumin and continue to simmer for about 10 minutes to maximize the flavor.
• Slowly pour in the stock and cook over low heat until the soup is reduced by 1/3 and the chicken breast is cooked through. 
• Remove the chicken breast and set aside. When cool enough to handle, slice chicken into very thin strips.
• Meanwhile, puree the soup, in batches, in a blender or food processor until smooth. 
• Ladle the soup into soup bowls and garnish with tortillas, avocados, chicken, cheese, and cilantro.