Best 6 Chef Pachucos Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipes

CHEF PACHUCO'S CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200°.
• Place tortillas on baking sheet. When oven is preheated, place tortillas in oven for 15-20 minutes, flipping once, to dry out (you do not want moist tortillas in this case).
• When tortillas are dried out, cut into ¼ inch wide by 2 inch strips.
• Boil chicken breasts in the chicken broth until they turn white in color and float.
• Chop onion, tomatoes, and garlic. Set aside in bowl.
• Chop cilantro. Set aside in another bowl.
• Place poblano peppers under broiler or over the flame from a gas stove burner until the skin turns black in color.
• Place poblanos in a plastic bag (you can use one like those you get at the grocery store) for 10-15 minutes.
• When peppers are ready, take out of bag, run under cold water, and with hands (you may wish to use gloves), remove skin, seeds, and veins.
• Chop the poblanos, and add to bowl with onion, tomatoes, and garlic.
• In a skillet, heat enough oil to cover generously, the bottom of the skillet. Fry tortilla strips in the oil until golden brown (fry a little bit at a time; it is both easier to control, and gives more even browning).
• Drain tortilla strips on some paper toweling to remove excess grease.
• In the same oil, sauté onion, tomatoes, garlic, and poblanos until onion turns translucent.
• Chop or shred chicken (is a matter of preference), then add to skillet with vegetables. Simmer for 5-10 minutes stirring occasionally.
• Add tomato sauce and tomato paste, as well as all spices to the chicken broth. Bring to a boil.
• Add vegetables from skillet and about one handful of cilantro (set remaining cilantro aside to use as a garnish if you choose) to the broth.
• Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until cilantro turns black in color. Crush up approximately ¾ of the tortilla strips in a Ziploc bag until they are like bread crumbs, then add to pot.
• Simmer until tortilla strips dissolve, stirring occasionally. When tortilla strips are dissolved, you are finished and ready to plate.
• Serving suggestions are to shred some Monterey Jack cheese, and chop up some avocado, more onion and cilantro. Place these items along with some of the remaining tortilla strips on top of a piping hot bowl of soup.

MEXICAN TORTILLA CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• Place a stockpot over medium heat and coat with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the onions, garlic, jalapenos, and tomatoes; cook, stirring for 15 minutes until the vegetables are cooked down and pulpy. Pour in the stock, season with salt and pepper, and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 1-inch of canola oil in a skillet over medium-high flame. When the oil begins to smoke, add the tortilla strips in batches and fry until they are crisp on all sides. Remove to a paper towel-lined platter and sprinkle with salt while they are still hot.
• Ladle the hot soup into 4 soup bowls and put a pile of shredded chicken on top of each. Top with the diced avocado and fried tortilla strips (and cheese if using). Garnish with cilantro and serve with lime wedges.
• Place the chicken and vegetables in a large stockpot over medium heat. Pour in only enough cold water to cover (about 3 quarts); too much will make the broth taste weak. Toss in the thyme, bay leaves, and peppercorns, and allow it to slowly come to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-low and gently simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, partially covered, until the chicken is done. As it cooks, skim any impurities that rise to the surface; add a little more water if necessary to keep the chicken covered while simmering.
• Carefully remove the chicken to a cutting board. When its cool enough to handle, discard the skin and bones; hand-shred the meat into a storage container.
• Carefully strain the stock through a fine sieve into another pot to remove the vegetable solids. Use the stock immediately or if you plan on storing it, place the pot in a sink full of ice water and stir to cool down the stock. Cover and refrigerate for up to one week or freeze.
• Yield: 2 quarts

CLASSIC TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• For the soup: Heat a heavy saute pan over medium-high heat. Cook the garlic, tomatoes, onion and New Mexico chile in the pan. Using tongs, turn the vegetables occasionally during cooking to ensure charring on all sides. Remove the vegetables once slightly blackened on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove the peel from the garlic. Add the charred vegetables to the blender with the tortilla pieces and 2 cups chicken broth. Blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into a large saucepan and add the remaining 4 cups chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil; reduce the heat and simmer, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• For the tortilla strips: In a medium, heavy skillet, pour enough oil to reach a depth of 1/2 inch. Heat over medium-high heat until very hot but not smoking. Add the tortilla strips in batches and fry until golden and crisp, about 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Set aside.
• To serve: Ladle the soup into 6 individual serving bowls. Serve with sour cream, avocados, cheese, tortilla strips, cilantro and lime wedges on the side.

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan heat the vegetable oil. Add the onions and cook for 2 minutes. Once the onions have softened add the garlic and jalepenos and cook for another minute. Pour the chicken broth, tomatoes and beans into the pot and bring to a boil. Once at a boil lower heat to simmer and add your chicken breasts. Cook the chicken for 20 to 25 minutes. Once chicken is cooked remove from pot. When cool enough to handle shred it and set it aside. Add lime juice and fresh cilantro to the pot. In a serving bowl add a mound of shredded chicken. Ladle soup over chicken and top with a lime wedge, grilled tortilla strips, avocado slices and cheese.

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• Bring the chicken, garlic, onions, habaneros, jalapenos and 1 gallon water to a boil in a large pot. Skim the foam from the surface. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, skimming the surface frequently, until the chicken is cooked through, about 1 hour.
• Remove the chicken from the broth. Strain the broth into another large pot. Return the chiles to broth and discard remaining solids. Shred chicken meat and discard the skin and bones. Set the chicken aside for future use.
• Meanwhile, set the pot with the strained broth over medium heat and add the cilantro. Bring the broth to a simmer and cook until it reduces to 8 cups, about 1 hour. Discard the cilantro. Stir in the lime juice. Season with salt and pepper, and add more lime juice if desired. Return the chicken to the broth. Top with cilantro, tomatoes, avocado, queso fresco, tortillas and roasted corn, if using.

PAMPERED CHEF CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400. Cut tortillas into 1/2 inch strips. Place on baking sheet. Bake 7-8 minutes or until crisp.
• Meanwhile, chop onion. Cut chicken into 1/2 inch pieces. Cook chicken in pot sprayed with vegetable oil, add onion, garlic, chili powder and cumin. Cook and stir. Stir in broth, tomatoes and chilis. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer.
• Snip cilantro. Divide tortilla strips among 4 bowls. Ladle soup over tortillas. Grate cheese over top. Sprinkle with cilantro. Garnish each bowl with lime slice to squeeze juice into soup if desired.