Tortilla Soup With Crisp Tortillas And Avocado Relish Food

TORTILLA SOUP WITH CRISP TORTILLAS AND AVOCADO RELISH

Steps:

• Make soup:
• Preheat broiler.
• Coarsely chop onion. In a well-seasoned 9-inch cast-iron or other heavy ovenproof skillet arrange onion, tomatoes, and garlic in one layer and broil about 2 inches from heat, turning vegetables occasionally with tongs, until tomato skins are blistered and lightly charred, about 20 minutes. Cool vegetables.
• While vegetables are broiling, remove stems, seeds, and ribs from chilies (wear rubber gloves). Heat a dry griddle or heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and toast chilies, 1 or 2 at a time, pressing down with tongs, a few seconds on each side, or until more pliable. Transfer chilies as toasted to a bowl. Cover chilies with hot water and soak about 20 minutes, or until soft.
• Drain chilies, discarding soaking liquid, and in a blender purée with vegetable mixture until smooth.
• Cut 6 tortillas into quarters and cut remaining 4 tortillas into 1/4-inch-wide strips. In cleaned 9-inch skillet heat 1/2 inch oil until a deep-fat thermometer registers 375°F. and fry tortilla quarters in 3 batches, turning them, until crisp and pale golden, 30 seconds to 1 minute. With a slotted spoon transfer quarters as fried to paper towels to drain.
• Fry tortilla strips in 2 batches in same manner, transferring with tongs to paper towels to drain and keeping them separate from fried tortilla quarters. In a plastic bag with a rolling pin finely crush tortilla quarters.
• In a 5-quart heavy kettle bring stock and chili pur e to a boil, stirring. Stir in crushed tortillas, oregano, and salt and simmer, uncovered, whisking occasionally, until tortillas are soft and soup is slightly thickened, 30 to 45 minutes. If necessary, season soup with salt and pepper.
• Make relish while soup is simmering:
• Quarter avocados, removing pits, and peel. Cut avocados into 1/4-inch dice and finely chop tomato. Wearing rubber gloves, finely chop chilies, including seeds if desired. In a bowl gently stir together avocados, tomato, onion, chilies, and remaining relish ingredients until combined well.
• Divide relish, fried tortilla strips, and coriander among 8 soup plates and ladle soup over mixture. Garnish soup with lime wedges.

TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot and saute the onion until soft. Add the Basic Chicken Stock, garlic, bay leaf, oregano, peppercorns, and chiltepin and simmer for 1 hour.
• While the soup is simmering, fill a deep saucepan with corn oil to a depth of 2 inches and heat to 375 degrees F. (If you don't have an oil thermometer, heat the oil until a piece of tortilla dropped in the oil sizzles immediately, but don't let the oil start smoking.) Fry the tortillas strips until golden brown and crisp. Drain strips on paper towels. Alternative method: If you prefer not to deep-fry, brush the tortillas lightly with oil before cutting them into strips, and bake on a cookie sheet in a preheated 350 degree F oven until dry and crisp.
• When the soup has simmered 1 hour, puree 1 1/2 cups of the Salsa Fresca and add it to the soup. Remove from the heat. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• Divide the fried tortilla strips into 6 wide soup bowls. Add 2 or 3 slices of avocado, a lime wedge, and some grated cheese to each bowl. Pour in the hot broth, add a dollop of salsa, and serve immediately, with the additional lime wedges on the side.
• Put all the ingredients in a large pot and add water to cover. Bring to a boil, skimming off the foam that comes to the surface. Reduce the heat and simmer, skimming occasionally, for 2 hours. Strain and discard the bones and vegetables. You may wish to refrigerate the broth and skim off fat before using in a recipe, or freezing.
• Mix all the ingredients together. For best results, let salsa stand at least half an hour before serving or incorporating into recipe. Use within 24 hours. (The Vinaigrette calls for 1 cup. Enjoy the remaining 2 cups in Tortilla Soup or just with chips.)

GRILLED SEA SCALLOPS WITH AVOCADO-CORN RELISH ON CRISP TORTILLAS

Steps:

• For the relish: Combine all ingredients in bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• For the scallops: Preheat grill. Brush scallops with oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Grill the scallops for 2 minutes on each side. Arrange tortillas on a serving platter, top each with a layer of relish and 1 scallop. Garnish with parsley.

CHICKEN SOUP WITH AVOCADO AND CRISPY TORTILLA STRIPS

Steps:

• Coarsely chop onion and garlic. Wearing rubber gloves, finely chop jalapeño. Chop cilantro. Remove and discard skin from chicken.
• In a 3-quart saucepan cook chicken with onion, garlic, jalapeño, 1 tablespoon cilantro, broth, and water at a bare simmer until just cooked through, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to a cutting board with tongs and, when cool enough to handle, shred meat, discarding bones. Pour broth mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl and return to cleaned pan.
• Halve tortillas and cut crosswise into 1/8-inch-wide strips. In an 8-inch skillet heat oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and, working in 3 batches, fry tortilla strips, stirring gently, until golden. With tongs transfer strips as fried to paper towels to drain.
• Halve, pit, and peel avocados and cut flesh into 1/2-inch cubes. Add chicken to broth and heat over moderate heat until hot. Add remaining cilantro, avocado, lime juice, and salt to taste.
• Serve soup garnished with tortilla strips.

VEGETARIAN TORTILLA SOUP WITH AVOCADO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Arrange tortilla strips on a baking sheet and lightly with cooking spray.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden and crispy, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Heat peanut oil in a stockpot over medium-high heat; saute onion, red bell pepper, and garlic until onion is translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes with juice, zucchini, corn, and mushrooms; saute until zucchini is slightly softened, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Mix vegetable broth, chili powder, hot sauce, salt, and pepper into vegetable mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer soup until vegetables are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir cilantro into soup and remove stockpot from heat.
• Ladle soup into serving bowls; top with tortilla strips, avocado slices, and Monterey Jack cheese.

CHICKEN TORTILLA AVOCADO SOUP

Steps:

• Mix broth, garlic, onion, chili powder, adobo seasoning and can of diced tomatoes and chiles in large soup pot.
• Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes for flavors to blend.
• Add carrots, celery, chicken and rice and cook 30 minutes more, or until rice is tender.
• In individual heat-proof bowls, place two tortillas cut into strips.
• Ladle soup over the tortillas and sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese.
• Place under broiler until cheese melts.
• Remove from oven, top with 1/2 sliced avocado and serve immediately.

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP WITH AVOCADO

Steps:

• Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the water, onion, and celery and cook until slightly tender, about 3 minutes.
• Add the chicken stock, chicken breast, and chipotle, bring to a boil.
• Add the tortillas and cilantro. Stir to mix. Ladle into 4 bowls, sprinkle with cheese and top with equal amounts of avocado.