Tortilla Soup

Tortilla Soup is one of those soups that everyone loves. It’s got a lot going for it - not only does the broth have a deep, toasted corn flavor but it’s often served at restaurants crowned with a nest of tortillas strips, oodles of grated cheese and more than a little daub of sour cream.

Here is a lighter, healthier and vegetarian version in which you use your favorite bean instead of the usual chicken. The corn tortillas and spices flavor the soup, but if you wanted to give it more body you could blend up some of the beans to make the soup creamier.

The toppings are also a smorgasbord of fun - use anything you like: vegan cheese, yogurt, fresh tomatoes, tomatillos, avocados, and minced jalapeno.

Time: 35 minutes
Serves: 5

Tortilla Soup

7 small corn tortillas – 2 for the soup, 5 for toppings
vegetable oil
1 yellow onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 large can tomato puree
1 box of veggie broth
1 can of pinto beans (or your favorite - black beans, black eyed peas, hominy or a combo), drained and rinsed
juice of 1/2 lime
3/4 tsp cumin (more for tortillas)
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp oregano
1 tsp salt (more for tortillas)

To prepare the tortillas, rip 2 of them into jagged pieces about 1.5 inches around. Take the remaining 5 tortillas and cut into 1/4 inch strips with a kitchen scissors.

Lightly oil a baking sheet and arrange the tortilla pieces and strips into a single layer. Sprinkle the top with salt and chili powder. Bake in a 350 degree oven, about 10 minutes on each side. Remove when crispy.

In a large pot, sauté the green pepper and onion in oil for a few minutes. Add the garlic. When the veggies are wilted add the vegetable broth, tomato puree, beans, lime and spices.

Simmer for 20 minutes. Add the torn tortilla pieces and cook for another few minutes, until the broth starts to absorb the flavor of the tortillas.

To Serve

cilantro, minced
avocado, diced
cheese, grated - optional (goat, white cheddar, jack)
(more suggestions in the introduction)

Ladle the soup into bowls and top with above toppings or others at your discretion.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 25th, 2007 at 7:34 pm and is filed under Soups & Stews, Winter. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.