Not Just Another Chicken Tortilla Soup Food

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• Put the chicken, the beef bones if you're using them, 3 of the onion quarters and the garlic in a large pot. Add water just to cover (about 10 cups) and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat so the liquid bubbles gently. Cook, skimming the foam off the surface every now and then, until the chicken is very tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, put the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot but not smoking, fry 2 of the tortillas (one at a time if necessary), turning once, until crisp and golden, 2 to 3 minutes per tortilla. Drain on paper towels. Cut the 4 remaining tortillas into strips, add them to the skillet and fry, stirring to separate them, until crisp and golden, another 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt while they're still warm.
• When the chicken is tender, transfer it to a plate or cutting board with tongs or a slotted spoon (or put it in the fridge or freezer so it cools faster). When it's cool enough to handle, shred the meat with your fingers, discarding the bones and the skin. (If you used beef, discard it or save it for another use.)
• While the chicken is cooling, strain the stock and discard the solids. Peel the remaining quarter of an onion and put it in a blender with the chipotle, 1/4 cup of the cilantro and a sprinkle of salt. Crumble in the two whole fried tortillas and add enough stock to fill the blender a little more than halfway. Purée until the mixture is as smooth as possible.
• Pour the purée and remaining stock back into the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat so the mixture bubbles gently and cook for 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in the shredded chicken, taste and add more salt if necessary. Divide the avocados, the cheese and the remaining 1/4 cup cilantro among 4 to 6 bowls. Ladle the soup into the bowls and garnish with the fried tortilla strips. Serve immediately with lime wedges if you like.

FIVE-STAR RESTAURANT'S CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• Stock: Use a 16 quart stock pot and bring everything to boil.
• Lower heat and simmer until chicken floats (approx. 1 1/2 to 2 hours).
• Drain and reserve broth only.
• Save chicken for another use or you can shred it and put it into the soup.
• Soup: In the same stock pot, heat the vegetable oil on medium high heat and add garlic, onions, and serrano peppers, cook for a few minutes.
• Add the chicken stock, chipotles, corn tortillas, tomato paste, lemon juice, and sugar.
• Cook until the tortillas are dissolved.
• Use a blender and blend the soup when it's cooled.
• Re-heat the soup and garnish with cut up avocados, tortilla chips, sour cream, and shredded mozarella cheese.

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• Heat a broiler with a rack 4 to 6 inches from the heat source. Line a sheet pan with foil and arrange the plum tomatoes on it, cut sides up. Add the onion, cherry tomatoes, jalapeños and garlic, distributing them evenly, then broil for 15 minutes, checking and rotating the pan every 5 minutes to ensure the vegetables char evenly. (You want the vegetables to be blackened in many spots, slumped and sizzling. Many of the cherry tomatoes will have burst.) Let the vegetables sit 1 or 2 minutes, until just cool enough to handle.
• Warm the vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high. Transfer the charred onion to a cutting board, roughly chop it, and add it to the pot, along with the salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, discard the garlic skins then chop the garlic, jalapeños and plum tomatoes. Lift two sides of the foil and tip the cherry tomatoes and any juices into a bowl; set aside for the salsa.
• Add the chopped garlic, jalapeño and plum tomatoes to the pot, and cook, stirring often, until slightly reduced and glossy, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste, cumin, oregano, onion powder and garlic powder, and cook, stirring constantly, until toasted and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the chicken thighs, carrots and broth, and scrape the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits.
• Increase the heat to high, cover the pot and let the soup come to a boil. Uncover the pot, reduce the heat to medium-high for a medium-brisk simmer, and cook, stirring once or twice, until the chicken and carrots are tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, gently fold the avocado into the cherry tomatoes; add the juice of half the lime and season to taste with salt.
• With a slotted spoon or tongs, transfer the chicken to a bowl. Coarsely shred and break up the meat with a fork, then add it back into the pot. Squeeze in the juice of the remaining half lime, and add more salt if necessary.
• Serve the soup in bowls topped with crushed tortilla chips and spoonfuls of the tomato-avocado salsa. Pass hot sauce, queso fresco and/or cilantro at the table, if desired.

NEARLY FAMOUS CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• In a large stock pot, heat the oil over high. Add onions, 1/3 cup cilantro and garlic, sauté 3 minutes.
• Stir in tomatoes and spices, then bring to a boil.
• Add the broth, carrots and chicken. Return to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook another 10-12 minutes.
• Stir in half the cheese and 1 cup crushed tortilla chips.
• Ladle into bowls and top with remaining cheese, fresh cilantro, fresh avocado, and more tortilla chip pieces. Serves 4+.
• *This is a great recipe for leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken. Just add it in at the very end to warm it up!

CREAMY CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• 1. Make Bear Creek soup mix as directed.
• 2. Add onion and red pepper.
• 3. Strain corn, tomatoes, and green chiles; add to soup.
• 4. Strain cans of chicken and put in separate bowl. Stir chicken to break up chunks. Add to soup.
• 5. Add heavy cream.
• 6. Heat until warm. Do not boil, as cream will curdle.
• 7. Serve and enjoy!