Best Tortilla Soup With Crisp Tortillas Avocado Relish Recipes

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP WITH CRISPY TORTILLA STRIPS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook until very tender and browned in spots, about 6 minutes. Add the coriander and cumin and cook until the spices have toasted slightly and become fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of the chicken broth, then scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Remove from the heat and let it cool for 5 minutes or so, then transfer it to a blender. Add the tomatoes, chipotle, the torn tortillas, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Put the lid on, leaving one corner open. Cover the lid with a kitchen towel to catch splatters, and pulse until smooth, about 1 minute.
• Pour the soup back into the pot and stir in the remaining 3 cups chicken broth, 2 cups water and the shredded chicken. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium-low and gently simmer until the chicken is very tender and the soup has thickened slightly, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, pour oil into a large heavy-bottomed pot to a depth of 2 inches. Place over medium heat and heat to 365 degrees F. Add the tortilla strips, in two batches, and fry until golden brown and crisp, about 1 minute. Drain on a paper-towel-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with salt.
• Add the lime juice to the soup, then season with salt and pepper. Ladle into soup bowls, top with the crispy tortilla strips, reserved diced onion, cilantro, avocado and queso fresco. Serve with remaining lime wedges.

VEGETARIAN TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and jalapeño and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened and translucent, 5 to 8 minutes. Add chile powder and stir to coat. Cook a minute or two to toast the spices, then add chipotles and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes start to caramelize a bit on the bottom of the pot, concentrating their flavor.
• Add vegetable broth, corn and 2 cups of water. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Simmer until flavors meld and broth tastes rich and flavorful, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Heat oil in a large cast-iron or stainless-steel skillet or heavy-bottomed pot. Bring oil to 375 degrees and working in batches, fry tortilla strips until light golden brown and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and season with salt.
• Place about 3/4 of the tortilla strips into broth and stir to submerge and soften for a few minutes. Divide soup among bowls and top with avocado, cheese, sour cream, cilantro, onion and remaining fried tortilla strips. Serve lime alongside for squeezing.

TORTILLA SOUP WITH CRISP TORTILLAS AND AVOCADO RELISH

Steps:

• Make soup:
• Preheat broiler.
• Coarsely chop onion. In a well-seasoned 9-inch cast-iron or other heavy ovenproof skillet arrange onion, tomatoes, and garlic in one layer and broil about 2 inches from heat, turning vegetables occasionally with tongs, until tomato skins are blistered and lightly charred, about 20 minutes. Cool vegetables.
• While vegetables are broiling, remove stems, seeds, and ribs from chilies (wear rubber gloves). Heat a dry griddle or heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and toast chilies, 1 or 2 at a time, pressing down with tongs, a few seconds on each side, or until more pliable. Transfer chilies as toasted to a bowl. Cover chilies with hot water and soak about 20 minutes, or until soft.
• Drain chilies, discarding soaking liquid, and in a blender purée with vegetable mixture until smooth.
• Cut 6 tortillas into quarters and cut remaining 4 tortillas into 1/4-inch-wide strips. In cleaned 9-inch skillet heat 1/2 inch oil until a deep-fat thermometer registers 375°F. and fry tortilla quarters in 3 batches, turning them, until crisp and pale golden, 30 seconds to 1 minute. With a slotted spoon transfer quarters as fried to paper towels to drain.
• Fry tortilla strips in 2 batches in same manner, transferring with tongs to paper towels to drain and keeping them separate from fried tortilla quarters. In a plastic bag with a rolling pin finely crush tortilla quarters.
• In a 5-quart heavy kettle bring stock and chili pur e to a boil, stirring. Stir in crushed tortillas, oregano, and salt and simmer, uncovered, whisking occasionally, until tortillas are soft and soup is slightly thickened, 30 to 45 minutes. If necessary, season soup with salt and pepper.
• Make relish while soup is simmering:
• Quarter avocados, removing pits, and peel. Cut avocados into 1/4-inch dice and finely chop tomato. Wearing rubber gloves, finely chop chilies, including seeds if desired. In a bowl gently stir together avocados, tomato, onion, chilies, and remaining relish ingredients until combined well.
• Divide relish, fried tortilla strips, and coriander among 8 soup plates and ladle soup over mixture. Garnish soup with lime wedges.