Tortilla Soup Splendida
By: Emily Heston
Published: Thursday, December 3, 2009 - 12:48am

Ingredients




2 chicken breasts, bone in, skin on
2 tablespoons vegetable oil + more for frying tortilla strips
8 cups chicken stock
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1 large tomato, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 green onions, chopped
12 ounces Cotija cheese, or fresh mozarella cheese, crumbled or cut into chunks
salsa
hot sauce
1 inch avacado cut  chunks
10 corn tortillas, cut into thin slices

Preparation

1 In a large soup pot pour in 2 tablespoon of the oil and put over medium heat. 2 Once the oil is hot stir in the onions and tomatos and cook until the onions just begin to become translucent. 3 Pour the chicken broth into the pot.   Add the chicken breasts.  Turn heat up to medium high. 4 When broth comes to a boil allow the breasts to cook for about 25 minutes, then remove them from the broth.   Turn off heat. 5 Allow chicken breasts to cool.  When cool, shred chicken breast meat (discard bone and skin). 6 This portion of the recipe can be done up to the day before, chicken and broth can be stored in refrigerator until ready to serve. 7 To make tortilla strips, pour enough oil in a frying pan so that it is at least one inch deep.   Heat over high heat.   Test the oil by dropping in a small piece of tortilla, when it dances and bubbles, the oil is ready. 8 Place a small handful of tortilla strips into the oil.   Don't crowd the strips, they should have room to move around in the oil.   After 1 - 2 minutes turn strips over using tongs. 9 When stiff and golden brown, remove tortilla strips using tongs and put on a plate covered with paper towels to drain. 10 Fry the rest of the strips, salt and toss. 11 When ready to serve, heat the chicken broth to just boiling, add in shredded chicken and heat through. 12 Add fresh cilantro. 13 Set up serving station with tortilla strips, cheese, avacado, chopped green onions, favorite salsas and hot sauces. 14 Invite diners to take a bowl and add ingredients (tortilla strips, cheese, avacado, etc.) to their bowl, then ladle soup over the top and enjoy!

About


This is a satisfying, light soup which can be customized to fit everyones tastes.  Cooking the chicken breasts in the broth enhances the flavor splendidly!   This is a great course to expand for a crowd.

Comments:
im

I love soups!