Reducipe - Chicken Tortilla Soup

Posted on September 9, 2007 by Melissa
Filed Under Food, Reducipes

Reducipe
Pronunciation: ri-doos-uh-pee
Function: noun
1 : a recipe that can help lower your food costs in a variety of ways
     a : by scaling back an expensive recipe to be less pricey but still just as tasty
     b : by turning an already inexpensive meal into something special
     c : by using leftovers in creative ways to stretch their use

Chicken Tortilla Soup Chicken Tortilla is as common as Chicken Noodle in my area. It’s spicy and rich and with it’s variety of toppings it feels like you get a different little treasure in each spoonful. It’s wonderful in both hot and cool weather and can be made on a tight budget.

This soup is a cheap and tasty way to use up leftover shredded chicken. Soups are famous for being an inexpensive way to feed your family and this one is no exception. It is based on vegetables and although it requires more fresh ingredients and preparation than some other soups it is well worth the effort.

I have found that you can stretch a small amount of leftover chicken by putting the individual portions directly into the bowls of soup. That way you aren’t fishing for pieces in the big pot later and you know everyone gets an equal share. When packing this soup up for lunch the next day, I go ahead and add the leftover chicken to the broth so it will heat up together. Pack all the other toppings on the side and add them after re-heating.

My husband just adores this soup. It serves 4-6 but with us it’s usually gone by the next day’s lunch.

Chicken Tortilla Soup (adapted from a recipe by Tyler Florence)

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium white onions, diced
3-4 medium tomatoes, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1-2 jalapenos, seeded and minced
1 quart chicken stock
Spices, to taste
    Cumin
    Chili Powder
    Mexican Oregano
    Onion Powder
    Garlic Powder
    Cayenne
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Toppings
Canola oil, for pan-frying
10 corn tortillas, cut into strips
1 cup shredded chicken, cooked and kept warm
1 large avocado, pitted, peeled, and diced
1/2-1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
3 limes, cut in wedges, for serving

Place a stockpot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the onions, tomatoes, garlic, and jalapenos; cook, stirring for 10 minutes or until the vegetables are cooked down. Season with spices and salt and pepper and stir to mix. Pour in the stock, and simmer for about 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 soup bowls and put a pile of warm shredded chicken in each. Top with the diced avocado, cheese, and tortilla strips. Garnish with cilantro and serve with lime wedges. Serves 4-6.

Don’t be afraid to fry up your own tortilla strips. They taste much better than thin tortilla chips with this soup. You can use the leftover tortillas to make enchiladas later in the week if you want. They tend to keep a long time so I always find a way to use them up. Here are a look at all the ingredients used.

This is what this soup cost me to make this week (excluding frying oil and spices).

Ingredients	Cost	Ingredients	Cost
Tomatoes	$1.01	Garlic	$0.05
Avocados	$1.58	Limes	$0.50
Onions	$0.99	Chicken (1 chicken leg)	$0.81
Cilantro	$0.25	Canned Broth (4 cans)	$2.00
Jalapenos	$0.12	Cheese (leftover, est.)	$0.50
Tortillas (1/2 pkg)	$0.50	Olive Oil (est.)	$.10
			$8.41 or $1.40 a serving

Canned broth was the single most expensive ingredient so if you substitute your own homemade stock you could save even more. Avocados can be pricey and can be omitted but do try to use them if you can. The creamy coolness of the avocado against the spiciness of the soup really adds something special. Enjoy!

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Comments

5 Responses to “Reducipe - Chicken Tortilla Soup”

And Miles To Go.... on September 11th, 2007 10:22 am

that sound delicious!!
Melissa on September 12th, 2007 10:36 am

Thank you! If you do end up trying it out let me know what you think of it.

Thanks for commenting!
Month of Menu Planning | beingfrugal.net on November 5th, 2007 5:39 am

[...] W - Chicken Tortilla Soup [...]
Review: Chicken Tortilla Soup | beingfrugal.net on November 26th, 2007 12:29 pm

[...] I planned my menu for the month, I decided to try Melissa’s Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe. She says that in her area it’s as common as chicken noodle soup. We must not live in [...]
DHFADHF on April 25th, 2008 10:27 pm

omg i love the recipie it was like soooooooooooo deliciouse!