Chicken Tortilla Soup
 Not your typical chicken tortilla soup, this creamy, flavor-packed version is a hearty blend of veggies, broth, and corn tortillas. It’s a meal in itself, especially topped with corn, sour cream, avocado, or your favorite seasonal add-ins. Ingredients For Soup ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 medium yellow onions, roughly chopped (about 2½ cups) 4 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced into quarters 1 green bell pepper, seeded and roughly chopped 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 6 cups chicken broth (best quality such as Swanson) 6 small (6-inch) corn tortillas, cut into small pieces 1 tablespoon ground cumin 2 teaspoons chili powder ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 medium yellow onions, roughly chopped (about 2½ cups) 4 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced into quarters 1 green bell pepper, seeded and roughly chopped 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 6 cups chicken broth (best quality such as Swanson) 6 small (6-inch) corn tortillas, cut into small pieces 1 tablespoon ground cumin 2 teaspoons chili powder ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper Optional Additions 2 cups shredded cooked chicken, from a store-bought rotisserie chicken or leftovers Sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, corn, cilantro, avocado, black beans, lime wedges 2 cups shredded cooked chicken, from a store-bought rotisserie chicken or leftovers Sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, corn, cilantro, avocado, black beans, lime wedges Instructions In a large pot, heat the oil and butter over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, and green pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and just starting to brown, about 15 minutes. (Turn the heat to medium-low if the mixture is browning too quickly.) Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Add the chicken broth, cut tortillas, cumin, chili powder, salt, and cayenne and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to low and simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, then use a handheld immersion blender to purée the soup until completely smooth. (Alternatively, let the soup cool slightly and use a blender to purée in batches. Be sure to remove the center knob on the blender top and cover with a dish towel to avoid splatters.) Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Stir in the chicken, if using, then ladle the soup into bowls and serve with optional additions. Make-Ahead/Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The soup can be made up to 4 days ahead of time and refrigerated, or frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost the soup in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat until hot. The soup may thicken during storage, so add a bit of water or chicken broth to thin it out while reheating, if necessary. In a large pot, heat the oil and butter over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, and green pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and just starting to brown, about 15 minutes. (Turn the heat to medium-low if the mixture is browning too quickly.) Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Add the chicken broth, cut tortillas, cumin, chili powder, salt, and cayenne and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to low and simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, then use a handheld immersion blender to purée the soup until completely smooth. (Alternatively, let the soup cool slightly and use a blender to purée in batches. Be sure to remove the center knob on the blender top and cover with a dish towel to avoid splatters.) Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Stir in the chicken, if using, then ladle the soup into bowls and serve with optional additions. Make-Ahead/Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The soup can be made up to 4 days ahead of time and refrigerated, or frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost the soup in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat until hot. The soup may thicken during storage, so add a bit of water or chicken broth to thin it out while reheating, if necessary. Nutrition Information Powered by Per serving (6 servings) Serving size: 1 bowl (does not include toppings) Calories: 328 Fat: 21 g Saturated fat: 7 g Carbohydrates: 28 g Sugar: 6 g Fiber: 3 g Protein: 9 g Sodium: 579 mg Cholesterol: 28 mg Per serving (6 servings) Serving size: 1 bowl (does not include toppings) Calories: 328 Fat: 21 g Saturated fat: 7 g Carbohydrates: 28 g Sugar: 6 g Fiber: 3 g Protein: 9 g Sodium: 579 mg Cholesterol: 28 mg