Emerils Favorite Tortilla Soup Recipes

EMERIL'S FAVORITE TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven or large heavy pot, heat the oil on medium-high heat. Add the onions, garlic, peppers, salt, cumin, and coriander for 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add the chicken and simmer for about 10 minutes. Add the cilantro and lime juice, and stir well. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm. Heat the oil in a heavy pot or electric fryer to 350 degrees F. Add the tortilla strips in batches and fry until golden and crisp, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Season with the Essence. Ladle the soup into 4 or 6 serving bowls. Garnish each serving with the diced avocado, the fried tortilla strips, and Chipotle Crema. Emeril's ESSENCE Creole Seasoning (also referred to as Bayou Blast): 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika 2 tablespoons salt 2 tablespoons garlic powder 1 tablespoon black pepper 1 tablespoon onion powder 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon dried oregano 1 tablespoon dried thyme Combine all ingredients thoroughly. Yield: 2/3 cup Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993. Chipotle Crema: 1/2 cup sour cream 1 teaspoon chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce 1/8 teaspoon salt In the bowl of a food processor or blender, combine all the ingredients. Process on high speed until smooth. Serve with the soup.

FAVORITE CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven or large heavy pot, heat the oil on medium-high heat.
• Add the onions, garlic, peppers, salt, cumin, and coriander for 5 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
• Add the chicken stock and bring to a simmer.
• Simmer for 20 minutes.
• Add the chicken and simmer for 5-10 minutes (or until chicken is completely cooked).
• Add the cilantro and lime juice, and stir well.
• Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.
• Heat the oil in a heavy pot or electric fryer to 350 degrees F. Add the tortilla strips in batches and fry until golden and crisp, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Season with salt and pepper or Season All.
• Ladle the soup into 4 or 6 serving bowls. Garnish each serving with the diced avocado, the fried tortilla strips.

THE WORLD'S BEST TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• Heat vegetable oil in a large stock pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until brown and tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in 2 cans of chicken broth and canned tomatoes. Add fresh tomatoes.
• Mix Anaheim chile peppers, jalapeno pepper, cumin, chili powder, and pepper into the pot. Stir in chicken. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium and simmer soup until flavors combine, about 20 minutes.
• Ladle soup into serving bowls; twist 1 lime wedge into each bowl. Top with corn chips, sour cream, Cheddar cheese, avocado slices, and cilantro.

FRENCH ONION SOUP, EMERIL STYLE! DELISH!

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven or other large, heavy pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onions, salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and carefully add the cognac.
• Return the pan to the heat and cook until the alcohol has evaporated. Be careful as the cognac may ignite.
• Add the beef stock and thyme sprigs and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the soup for 45 minutes.
• While the soup is simmering, toast the bread slices until light golden brown. Remove from the oven.
• Preheat the broiler.
• When the soup is ready, divide 1/2 of the toasted bread slices between 6 individual oven proof serving bowls or crocks and top with 1/2 of the grated cheese.
• Ladle some of the soup among the bowls and top with the remaining toasts.
• Ladle the remaining soup among the bowls and top with the remaining cheese.
• Place the bowls on a baking sheet and place under the broiler until the cheese is melted, golden brown and bubbly, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from the oven.
• Optional topping:
• In a small bowl combine the egg yolks and Port and whisk to thoroughly combine. Pour some of the mixture evenly among the soup bowls, stirring in around the edges so that it is incorporated into the soup. (The heat of the soup will cook the egg yolk and this will thicken and enrich the soup.)
• Garnish the top with chopped parsley and serve hot.