Hearty Tortilla-Laced Chicken Stew Recipe
Here's a lively, unconventional take on Chicken Tortilla Soup, a flavor-packed dish brimming with various tasty ingredients! Let's dive right in, shall we?
First things first, fire up a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Toss in half a medium onion, diced, half a small carrot, peeled and diced, half a medium celery stalk, diced, and half a red bell pepper, diced. Season them with salt and pepper, and cook until they've softened, approximately 6 minutes. Now, add a minced garlic clove, some chili powder, ground coriander, cumin, dried oregano, paprika, and cayenne. Stir occasionally and cook until the aroma is fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Next, pour in 4 cups of stock or low-sodium chicken broth, 1 cup of water, 1/2 cup canned crushed tomatoes, and 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus some freshly ground black pepper. Stir to combine and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, add 4 to 5 corn tortillas, cut into half-inch pieces, and stir again. Simmer until everything melds together and the tortillas disintegrate, creating a thick, hearty soup, approximately 1 hour.
If you fancy a thicker soup, you could bump up the corn tortillas to 5. Or, if you're cooking for a crowd, simply double the recipe and enjoy a big pot of this mouthwatering dish!
Now, let's whip up some tortilla strips while the soup simmers. Heat 1 1/2 cups of vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Once it's shimmering (but not smoking, about 350°F), fry the tortilla strips until they're golden brown and crisp. Transfer them to a baking sheet lined with paper towels.
When the soup is ready, throw in 1 1/2 cups of shredded cooked chicken and 1/2 cup heavy cream. Simmer until the flavors meld, about 15 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve this fabulous soup topped with the tortilla strips, alongside any desired garnishes such as shredded Monterey Jack cheese, thinly sliced scallions, or a dollop of sour cream.
Thirsty for more twists? Modify this dish by adding different spices, beans, corn, or avocado. Want a thicker soup? Use ground tortillas or torn, simmered corn tortillas. You could even try adding sour cream or refried beans as low-calorie thickeners. For a slow cooker variation, place all ingredients inside and let it do its thing until the chicken is tender. You could also use an Instant Pot for a speedy meal. As always, go wild and customize the recipe to your taste buds' delight! Happy cooking!
Yield: 4 to 6 servingsDifficulty: EasyTotal: 2 hours
Ingredients:For the soup:- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil- 1/2 medium onion, medium dice (approximately 3/4 cup)- 1/2 small carrot, peeled and medium dice (approximately 1/4 cup)- 1/2 medium celery stalk, medium dice (approximately 1/4 cup)- 1/2 medium red bell pepper, medium dice (approximately 1/4 cup)- 1 medium garlic clove, minced- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder- 1 teaspoon ground coriander- 1 teaspoon ground cumin- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano- 1/2 teaspoon paprika- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper- 4 cups (1 quart) stock or low-sodium chicken broth- 1 cup water- 1/2 cup canned crushed tomatoes- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more as needed- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed- 4 to 5 (6-inch) corn tortillas, cut into half-inch pieces
For the tortilla strips:- 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil- 4 (6-inch) corn tortillas- Kosher salt- Freshly ground black pepper
To finish:- 1 1/2 cups shredded, cooked chicken (approximately 8 ounces)- 1/2 cup heavy cream- Kosher salt- Freshly ground black pepper
Optional garnishes:- Shredded Monterey Jack cheese- Thinly sliced scallions- Sour cream
[1] - Source: Fine Cooking[2] - Source: Allrecipes[3] - Source: The Spruce Eats[4] - Source: Simply Recipes[5] - Source: Epicurious
- This unconventional Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe, full of flavor and various tasty ingredients, can help you reduce your cravings for a hearty meal.
- If you're looking to make the soup thicker, add more corn tortillas or use ground tortillas as thickeners.
- The soup's nutritional value can be incredibly beneficial when served with garnishes like shredded Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, or thinly sliced scallions.
- For easier preparation, you could try making this soup in an Instant Pot or a slow cooker to have a hassle-free Aussiedlerbote (meal solution).
