Cooks Illustrated Tortilla Soup Recipes

AUTUMN CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• FOR THE TORTILLA STRIPS:.
• Scatter tortilla strips on baking sheet, drizzle with oil and bake at 425 degrees until golden brown and crispy (about 12-14 mins.).
• Remove tortilla strips from oven, season with salt and transfer to a paper towel lined plate to cool.
• FOR THE SOUP:.
• While tortilla strips bake, bring chicken, broth, 2 onion quarters, 2 garlic cloves, cilantro, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to boil over medium-high heat in large saucepan.
• Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until chicken is just cooked through, about 20 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to large plate and set aside to cool.
• Pour broth through fine-mesh strainer and discard solids in strainer.
• When cool enough to handle, shred chicken into bite-sized pieces & discard bones.
• Puree tomatoes, 2 remaining onion quarters, 2 remaining garlic cloves, jalapeño, chipotle chile, and 1 teaspoon adobo sauce in food processor until smooth.
• Heat oil in Dutch oven over high heat until shimmering.
• Add tomato/onion puree and 1/8 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring frequently, until mixture has darkened in color, about 10 minutes.
• Stir strained broth into tomato mixture, bring to boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer to blend flavors, about 15 minutes.
• If desired, add up to 2 teaspoons additional adobo sauce.
• Add shredded chicken and simmer until heated through, about 5 minutes.
• Place portions of tortilla strips in bottom of individual bowls and ladle soup over the tortilla strips.
• Dress soup with desired garnishes.

ESCAROLE SOUP WITH TORTELLINI

Steps:

• About 50 minutes before serving: Cut escarole into 2" pieces, discarding any tough ribs.
• Peel, seed, and dice tomatoes.
• Thinly slice carrots, chop onions.
• In 5 quart dutch oven over medium high heat, in hot oil, cook carrots and onion until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Add escarole and tomatoes and cook, stirring until vegetables are tender.
• Stir in chicken broth, beef-flavor bouillon, pepper and 5 cups water; over high heat, heat to boiling.
• Add tortellini and cook 5 minutes longer or until tortellini are tender.
• **NOTE: I also added 2 Tbsp soy sauce which helped to enhance the flavor of the broth.

TORTILLA SOUP WITH CHICKEN AND LIME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush 1 side of tortillas with oil; cut in half. Stack halves and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide strips. Spread strips on nonstick baking sheet. Bake until light golden, about 15 minutes. Cool on baking sheet.
• Combine broth, water, tomatoes, bay leaf, garlic, cumin and red pepper in saucepan; bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes. Add chicken; simmer until just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Stir in green onions, cilantro and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
• Ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with tortilla strips and serve.