Smooth and Silky Tortilla Soup
Chipotle powder, made from smoke-dried jalapeños known as chipotles, brings a deep, slow-building heat and unmistakable wood-fired character to this tortilla soup. Unlike fresh chiles, chipotles are transformed through time and smoke—developing a rich, almost savory warmth with notes of dried fruit, earth, and char. In this soup, the chipotle powder melds with red chile, roasted tomatoes, green chiles, and bell pepper, creating a base that is both bright and deeply smoky. Once blended with crisp-fried tortilla strips, the result is a velvety, full-bodied soup where the chipotle lingers at the finish—warm, rounded, and distinctly evocative of traditional Mexican smoke-kitchen cooking.
Ingredients
- 1/2 large white onion, coarsely chopped
- 2 Tablespoons olive/grape seed oil
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 Tablespoon red chile powder (MS451)
- 1 Tablespoon chipotle powder (MS603)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon toasted ground coriander (MS629)
- 4 roma tomatoes, peeled and seeded
- 2 green chiles, roasted, peeled, seeded (MS511)
- 1 red bell pepper, roasted, peeled, seeded
- 4 tortillas, cut into strips and sautéed in oil
- 1 quart chicken stock
Instructions
- Heat oil in a stock pot over medium flame. Add the onion and sauté for 4 minutes or until translucent. Add garlic, red chile, coriander, salt, tomatoes, green chiles, and red bell pepper and sauté for 5 minutes. Add chicken stock.
- Heat oil in a shallow pan and sauté tortilla strips for 1 minute each. Add to soup mixture. Continue to cook soup for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Carefully blend until smooth. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
Nutrition Facts per Serving Serving Size: 1.75 cups
Calories240
Total Fat12g
Saturated Fat2g
Cholesterol10–15mg
Sodium650–900mg
Total Carbohydrate28g
Dietary Fiber5g
Total Sugars5g
Protein10g
Nutrition Facts per Entire Batch (10-12 cups)
Calories1,400–1,500
Total Fat70–75g
Saturated Fat10–14g
Cholesterol60–90mg
Total Carbohydrates165–175g
Dietary Fiber28–32g
Total Sugars25–30g
Protein60–65g