Bill Knapps Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Start by mixing together the cumin, 1 teaspoon of the chilli powder, the garlic powder and salt. Drizzle the chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Then sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of the spice mixture. Set the rest of the spice mixture aside. Bake until the chicken is cooked all the way through, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove it from the oven. Cut the chicken into cubes and set aside.
• Next, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Throw in the onions, green and red bell peppers and garlic. Throw in a tablespoon of the spice mixture used to season the chicken. Add a little extra chilli powder (about 1/4 teaspoon) for heat. Stir to cook the vegetables until they begin to turn golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the cubed chicken and diced tomatoes, juice and all. Add the chicken broth, hot water and tomato paste. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Add the drained black beans. Next, mix together the cornmeal with 1/2 cup water. Add the mixture to the pot, and then simmer the soup for 10 to 15 minutes. Give it a taste and add salt or seasonings as needed; be sure to not under salt it!
• Cut the tortillas into uniform 2- to 3-inch strips. Stir most of them into the soup just before serving. This is what makes tortilla soup tortilla soup! Turn off the heat and get ready to serve it up. Ladle the soup into a bowl, then add avocado, red onion, sour cream, cilantro and extra tortilla strips to the top. The more toppings on tortilla soup, the merrier.

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!

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.