Santa Fe Tastic Tortilla Soup Recipes

JANE FOX'S FAMOUS TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Slice 6 of the tortillas into 1-inch strips, and then arrange them on a baking sheet in a single layer and spray with cooking spray. Bake until deeply golden, season with salt and reserve.
• Heat the corn oil in a soup pot or large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Chop the remaining 6 tortillas into 1 to 1 1/2-inch squares, and then stir into the pot 1 minute. Add the chili powder, cumin, garlic, bay leaves, onions and cilantro, sprinkle with some salt and pepper and stir to toast the spices. Cook until the onions are translucent, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Pour in the stock with the tomatoes and chiles and bring to a boil. Add the chicken, reduce the heat a bit and simmer to cook through, 15 minutes. Remove the chicken, slice or chop the breasts, and then return to the soup. Remove the bay leaves before serving.
• To serve, dice the avocados and cut the limes into wedges. Place some avocado at the bottom of each soup bowl and douse with a healthy squeeze of lime juice before filling the bowls with soup. At the table, top the soup with the baked tortilla strips, jalapenos, red onions, queso fresco and sour cream.

SANTA FE CHICKEN-TORTELLINI CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Spray 3-quart casserole with cooking spray. Cook and drain tortellini as directed on package.
• Meanwhile, in 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat. Cook broccoli, onion and bell pepper in oil about 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until crisp-tender. Remove broccoli mixture from skillet.
• In same skillet, cook flour and remaining 2 tablespoons oil over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth. Stir in milk, broth and cumin. Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly; remove from heat. Stir in chicken, Monterey Jack cheese, tortellini and broccoli mixture. Spoon into casserole.
• Bake uncovered 25 to 35 minutes, sprinkling with Colby cheese and tortilla chips for last several minutes of baking, until hot in center and cheese is melted.

SANTA FE SALAD WITH TORTILLA STRAWS

Steps:

• Place dressing and avocado in blender. Cover; blend on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray tortilla with cooking spray; sprinkle with salt and chili powder. Cut tortilla in half, then cut each half crosswise into 1/4-inch strips. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until crisp and golden brown. Set aside.
• Place iceberg and romaine lettuce on shallow serving platter or in large bowl. Sprinkle with tomato, jicama, cheese, olives and tortilla "straws." Serve with dressing.

WHY-THE-CHICKEN-CROSSED-THE-ROAD SANTA FE-TASTIC TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• Vegetable or corn oil, for drizzling, plus 2 tablespoons (2 turns of the pot in a slow stream).
• Heat a grill pan to high and a soup pot to medium high. Drizzle oil on corn and place on grill. Add red pepper to grill with corn. Char vegetables 10 minutes, total, turning occasionally. Remove to cool, 5 minutes. Remove charred skin from the pepper.
• While vegetables cook, dice chicken. Add 2 tablespoons oil to hot soup pot. Add chicken to pot. Season with poultry seasoning, cumin, salt and pepper. Lightly brown chicken on each side. Add onions and garlic and chipotle peppers. Cook vegetables with chicken 5 to 7 minutes to soften. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce and stock. Bring soup to a bubble, reduce heat to medium low.
• Scrape corn off cob and add to soup. Chop grilled red pepper and stir into soup. Add chips to soup in handfuls and fold together.
• Serve soup immediately with scatter of shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream. Top with any or all of the suggested garnishes.

SANTA FE-TASTIC CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• Heat a grill pan to high and a soup pot to medium high.
• Drizzle oil on corn and place on grill. Add red pepper to grill with corn. Char vegetables 10 minutes, total, turning occasionally. Remove to cool, 5 minutes.
• Remove charred skin from the pepper.
• While vegetables cook, dice chicken. Add 2 tablespoons oil to hot soup pot. Add chicken to pot. Season with poultry seasoning, cumin, salt and pepper. Lightly brown chicken on each side. Add zucchini, onions and garlic and chipotle peppers. Cook vegetables with chicken 5 to 7 minutes to soften. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce and stock.
• Bring soup to a bubble, reduce heat to medium low.
• Scrape corn off cob and add to soup.
• Chop grilled red pepper and stir into soup.
• Can simmer for about an hour or serve right away. This just gets better with time.
• Add chips to soup in handfuls and stir.
• Serve soup immediately with scatter of shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream.
• Top with any or all of the suggested garnishes. Best with big chunks of avacado.

SANTA FE-TASTIC TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• Heat a grill pan to high and a soup pot to medium high. Drizzle oil on corn and place on grill. Add red pepper to grill with corn. Char vegetables 10 minutes, total, turning occasionally. Remove to cool, 5 minutes. Remove charred skin from the pepper. While vegetables cook, dice chicken. Add 2 tablespoons oil to hot soup pot. Add chicken to pot. Season with poultry seasoning, cumin, salt and pepper. Lightly brown chicken on each side. Add zucchini, onions and garlic and chipotle peppers. Cook vegetables with chicken 5 to 7 minutes to soften. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce and stock. Bring soup to a bubble, reduce heat to medium low. Scrape corn off cob and add to soup. Chop grilled red pepper and stir into soup. Add chips to soup in handfuls and fold in. Serve soup immediately with scatter of shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream. Top with any or all of the suggested garnishes.