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The only upside of having the influenza virus last week was the paper-handled shopping bag delivered to my doorstep by my friend Suzanne via her 10-year old, doe-eyed daughter. Inside was a crock of homemade lentil soup so delicious it nurtured me back to health in a way that neither excessive rest nor an OD of Flonase ever could. Love in a bowl, it was.
Baby it’s cold. And we’ve got colds…. and flus and viruses. Soup is the best medicine I know; a fact borne out in plenty of scientific research. Indeed, studies have found that soup, specifically chicken soup, heals (although I have anecdotal evidence that lentil soup heals, too).
While I was laid up, I thought a lot about chicken soup; and not just any chicken soup, but tangy, spicy, cilantro-y chicken tortilla soup. Dreaming about it was all I could do: My husband, away on business, wasn’t going to deliver the goods; it seemed irresponsible to task my children with standing over a boiling cauldron unattended; and my lentil soup had yet to arrive.
Hence today, when I was finally feeling like myself again, I gathered up all my ingredients and made a pot. It’s a tasty brew; more complex and compelling than grandma’s garden variety chicken noodle, and chock full of curative properties.
Chicken tortilla soup is something I make year round, tinkering with the ingredients depending on what’s in season. And like nearly everything coming out of my kitchen, I work in an abundance of vegetables. This time of year, carrots, cabbage, and canned tomatoes are the major players. In the summer, I trade those out for corn, zucchini and local Romas.
You start by stewing a whole, bone-in chicken breast in plenty of broth. Cooking the chicken on the bone makes for a juicier result, plus the bone imparts flavor to the soup. I used the last of the Thanksgiving turkey stock in my freezer, making the soup both extra tasty, and a little bit sentimental.
The beauty of this soup is truly making it your own. All the seasoning comes at the tail end using whatever combination of lime juice, cilantro and jalapeno pepper suits your fancy. I like to top each bowl with tortilla strips that I crisp in the oven, along with crumbled cotija, a salty Mexican cheese. Naturally, you can use crushed, store-bought tortilla chips as a short cut, and top the soup with shredded Cheddar or diced avocado if you can’t get your hands on cotija. Get the kids in on the action by having them assemble their own bowls at the table.
You needn’t wait to get the flu to make this soup. In fact, it’s a much happier experience without it. I fed it to my robust brood tonight and it was a winner. It also happens to do fabulously inside a thermos, with little containers of crispy tortillas and cheese on the side, to be added at the lunch table.
If you have a friend who is sick, make this for them. Love in a bowl is meant for sharing.
CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP
4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
5 ½ cups chicken broth
1 cup diced, canned tomatoes
1 whole skinless, bone-in, chicken breast, cut into two halves (1 ½ pounds)
4 corn tortillas
Salt to taste
3 large carrots, peeled, cut into small, bite-size pieces
2 ½ cups roughly chopped red cabbage (about 1/3 of a head)
¼ cup fresh lime juice (1 to 2 limes), plus more if needed
¼ cup chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon finely chopped jalapeno pepper
1/3 cup crumbled cotija cheese
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Heat 2 teaspoons of the olive oil over medium heat in a large Dutch oven or soup pot. Add the onion and sauté for a few minutes until slightly tender. Add the garlic and sauté another minute. Pour in the chicken broth and tomatoes and stir. Add the chicken breasts, being sure they are completely immersed in liquid. If not, add a little more broth until they are. Turn the heat up and cook until the broth boils, reduce the heat to a simmer.
While the soup is cooking, stack the tortillas on a cutting board and cut into 1/4-inch-thick strips. Drizzle the remaining 2 teaspoons of olive oil on a baking sheet, put the tortillas strips on the oil and use your hands to lightly coat the tortillas. Spread them out and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Bake in the oven until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
After
