I make soup every Sunday. Along with my pre-made grains, a legume, some roasted chicken(or sauteed sausages), cleaned and prepped veggies, soup is always simmering on Sunday mornings. I meal plan. Shopping lists are written on Fridays, shopping is done on Saturday, thus the organization begins. Simply, it makes weeknight meals easier, quicker, and nutritious.
Soups are the best way to use up those veggies that get somewhat neglected or pushed aside in your vegetable drawer. Soup is one of those versatile meals, served with a salad one has the perfect meal. Barley soup is made with homemade chicken stock,prosciutto, leeks, potatoes, carrots, and celery. Before serving, I add some sauteed chicken sausage and chopped chard. Lentil soup is a staple and corn chowder is household favorite.
But, it’s my tortilla soup that is number one on the soup list. This soup was conceived over 20 years ago while spending weekends on a friends estate in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. In the winter months, I would occasionally ski, but it was nesting in their cozy home that I embraced most. Summers were spent on the lake, hiking, horseback riding, and eating; lots and lots of eating. It was one of those lazy days, reading and napping. Dinner was approaching so I accessed the provisions. Onions, garlic, tomatoes, chicken, stock, spices, tortillas, and an avocado. I started chopping, roasting, mincing and my tortilla soup was born.
Over the holidays I experimented with the Cuisinart Soup Maker + Blender, SBC-1000. I always thougth my blender did a great job…until I used this product. It blended perfectly, and not just soups. Our morning smoothies are every bit as good as a smoothie you would find at your local health food store. Although I really didn’t want another appliance in already crowded cupboards, I made an exception!
Tortilla Soup
Ingredients
8 corn tortillas, julienned
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 1/2 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 Tbsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. coriander
1 bay leaf
2 cups white onion, chopped
1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups fresh tomatoes, chopped
6 cups vegetable stock(I used homemade)
1 tsp. Celtic sea salt
2 chicken breasts with bones and skin, roasted
1 cup raw goats milk cheddar cheese, grated
1 avocado
Instructions
for the chicken:
1. preheat oven to 375*.
2. wash chicken breasts and pat dry. brush 1 tablespoon of olive oil on each breast. sprinkle with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.
3. place on a rimmed baking sheet and roast for 32-40 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center of the breast and the juices runs clear.
4. remove from the oven. when cool enough to handle, remove skin and bones. shred chicken and set aside.
for the soup:
1. in a large heavy duty stock pot, heat grapeseed oil. in several batches, cook half of the tortilla strips until crispy. drain on paper towels and set aside.
2. in the same pot, heat up the olive oil. add the other half of the corn tortillas. after about a minute(you don’t want them crispy) add the chopped onions. sweat the onions and tortillas together for about 10 minutes.
3. add the red bell pepper and saute for 5 minutes
4. in a small bowl, combine the cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper, coriander, and bay leaf. add to the onion mixture and saute for 1 minute or until you smell the fragrance of the spices.
5. add the garlic and saute for 1 minute.
6. add tomatoes, vegetable stock, and salt. bring to a boil.
7. once boiled, simmer, uncovered for one hour.
8. let cool slightly.
9. using your blender, puree in several batches.
to assemble:
1. place about a 1/4 cup of chicken in your soup bowl.
2. ladle in soup.
3. add some tortilla strips
4. sprinkle generously with cheese.
5. top it off with chopped avocado.
6. store soup in the fridge for 3 days(if it lasts that long!).
The Urban Baker / SusanSalzman.com
And now for the giveaway!
HOW TO ENTER
For a chance to win: leave a comment here letting me know your favorite soup.
WANT ADDITIONAL CHANCES TO WIN?
1. Follow @theurbanbaker on Twitter.
2. Tweet the following: Enter to #win a Cuisinart Soup Maker/Blender from @theurbanbaker http://is.gd/EDD2e3: #giveaway #cuisinart #chefscatalog
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6. Subscibe to The Urban Baker updates by email or subscribe to my RSS feed.
7. Stumble this post and follow me (and see who I follow).
DON’T FORGET:
• leave a separate comment for each of your entries.
• if you already follow me on both Twitter and Facebook and/or already subscribe to The Urban Baker RSS feed, let me know in your comment as this counts as an entry.
• giveaway starts on 1/8/2012 and will end on 1/17/2012 at 10:00 pm PST.
Official Rules:
• in order to win, leave a comment
• the winner will be selected via random.org. once selected, the winner will have up to 3 days to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen.
• the more you enter, the greater the odds of winning.
• CHEFScatalog sponsered this post: http://www.chefscatalog.com/
Disclaimer: CHEFS catalog provided me with the Cuisinart Soup Maker + Blender for the purpose of doing this giveaway. I received no additional compensation.
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my favorite soup recipe is…
Chicken Tinola (Filipino dish)
chicken, 1 whole, skin and fat removed
1 small ginger, 2-thumb sized, sliced
1 medium onions sliced thinly
1 whole garlic, chopped finely
1 small green papaya, sliced into medium sized cubes
2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 bundle spinach leaves, thoroughly washed
4-5 cups water
3-4 tbsps. fish sauce, or patis sauce
peppercorns
Saute onions in vegetable oil until translucent, followed by garlic, then ginger. Throw in the chicken until slightly browned, and then add the 4-5 cups water. Cover and boil then add the green papaya, potatoes, and remove any scum bubbles in the surface. Then finally, add the spinach when the chicken is cooked thoroughly. Enjoy with a side of cooked rice.
Favorite soup would be cheddar baked potato with bacon and chives
Tomato soup
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My favorite soup is chicken and rice.
My favorite is creamy tomato basil.
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I tweeted about it!
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Following @CHEFScatalog on twitter!
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My favorite soup to make is vegetable potage. Perfect with all the root vegetables that are in season now. I do follow you on facebook and on twitter. Bonne change à moi!
this sounds like a puree of veggie that I make( kind of copied the puree of veggie at La Scala) and it is good and such a great way to use up veggies almost going bad!
probably the same thing…cabbage, fennel, brocoli, carrots, etc….cooked, pureed and add a touch of cream before you serve and voila. Great for cold winter days here in France.
Love this soup, it really look delicious and perfect for this time of year!
The soup looks wonderful!
My favorite soup is garlic soup . . .mmmmm!
Hands down favorite soup is Homemade Creamy Cheesy Potato with fresh Chives and warm bread to dip!
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How to choose a favorite!? I think I’ll say miso soup. It hits all the right notes for me: comforting, salty and savory, and healthy!
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I tweeted your giveaway. 🙂
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My favorite soup is Black Bean, for sure. I also love French Onion and Potato soups as well!
Ahhhh- french onion soup! Such a wonderful childhood favorite!
I’m a huge fan of noodle soups like pho
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Gosh does this soup look warming & wonderful! Such a generous giveaway too 🙂 Congrats to the winner of this awesome machine!
Bingo! I have been looking for the perfect Tortilla soup recipe. Thanks Susan.
Susan, you’re so organized — doing all that cooking each Sunday! Someday I hope to get things that together.
Aida, unfortunately(or fortunately) it’s a necessity. 3 boys, 3 different schedules, after 3pm I am here, there and everywhere. I think it is safe to say that you are quite the organized one as well!!
My favorite soup is either classic chicken noodle with homemade german noodles, or roasted vegetable and butternut squash soup!
Clam Chowder!!! 🙂
butternut squash!
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One of my faves is my sweet potato corn chowder……YUM!
I love throwing soup together with whatever is in the refrigerator. That usually means sweet italian sausage, some white beans, kale and all the basics that make up soup (like celery, onions, etc.)!
This tortilla soup looks amazing!
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Curried butternut squash or homemade chicken noodle…
My favorite soup is vegetable beef. I love it with barley but have taken wheat out of my diet so just the beef and veggies will do just fine on their own 🙂
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My favorite soup is broccoli cheddar.
Chicken and wild rice is our current fave…
My favorite soup is Beef and Vegetable Soup
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My favorite soup is butternut squash.
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My favorite soup when I am out is tortilla soup but my favorite soup to make myself is
my grandma’s sour cabbage soup! Yum!!!! I also love the Italian Wedding Soup with a poached egg
chicken broth and spinach. Funny thing, I grew up hating soup and now I love to have soup on any occasion!!!!!
My favorite would have to be potato leek (but tortilla soup is a close second 😉 )
stumbled! (I feel like I should write more….I feel like this should at least be entertaining!)
I liked you 😉
My favorite soup is tomato soup…especially with a nice grilled cheese!
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My all time favorite is Tomato Basil Bisque…yummy!
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One of my favorite soups is cream of mushroom! This tortilla soup looks so warm and comforting!
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I love garlic soup.
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i follow you on here and will look into the others 🙂
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We fell in love with your Caesar salad dressing and agree it is the best! I will have to find you on Twitter! Our favorite soup is a hot n sour cabbage/tofu soup we created from a combination of a few recipes!
I am so happy you like the Caesar! It is a favorite among our tribe as well! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE hot and sour. Can you share that recipe? My kids would kiss me all over if I made that for them!
stumbled!
I love Ina Garten’s weddding soup! Yum!
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Has to be broccoli cheddar! Hands down….
I have never met a soup I did not like and we have soup very often…I guess my favorite is my chicken soup…my kids love that as well.It cures all ills… We also are very fond of mushroom barley, split pea, lentil, posole, butternut squash and pear, the list goes on and on and on…
You tortilla soup looks great…I will try your version soon!
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Your soup looks great! My favorite soup would have to be creamy mushroom soup if it’s done right.
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I tweeted!
I’m a fan of the Urban Baker on Fb (as pão e queijo blog).
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I’m now following Chefs Catalog on Twitter.
I subscribe to your RSS feed via Google Reader.
I get the emails and I love most soups!
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Chicken noodle! 🙂
I LOVE clam chowder when it’s done right! I’ve never done it before though hehe
I love butternut squash soup and cant wait to try your tortilla soup recipe!
My favorite soup is Minestrone.
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my favorite soup is french onion….YUMMMMM! but i love many many soups, i don’t like to play favorites!
I love French Onion, Joanne. It is one of my all time favorites. Although I don’t indulge in it often, when I do, I immediately go to that happy place!
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My favorite soup is Potato Corn and Bacon Chowder. I like it rich and thick and served with hot French crusty bread.
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Chicken soup!
I love butternut squash and ginger soup
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Favorite soup is lobster bisque….delicious!!!
my favorite soup is lobster bisque.
my favorite is vegetable soup
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chicken soup is my favorite
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my favorite is potato soup with cheddar cheese
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