Skip to main content

Black Bean Tortilla Soup with Shrimp and Corn

This is like a taco in soup form. It is not a traditional tortilla soup, but a black bean backdrop for a double or triple hit of corn (stock, tortillas, and fresh kernels), plus just-cooked shrimp. Like a taco, it’s hearty and satisfying without being fussy, and once you have the black bean soup base (page 52) ready and waiting, it’s a snap to put together.

Ingredients

1 to 1 1/2 cups Spicy Black Bean Soup Base (page 52), defrosted if frozen
Up to 1/2 cup Corn Broth (page 3), water, or chicken or vegetable stock (optional)
Kosher or sea salt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 jalapeño chile
2 corn tortillas, preferably homemade (page 84)
Kernels from 1 ear fresh corn (about 3/4 cup)
3 ounces very small shrimp, peeled, deveined, and cut in half lengthwise
8 small cherry tomatoes, quartered, or 2 plum tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 lime
2 tablespoons sour cream or crème fraîche
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm the soup base. Whisk in enough corn broth to reach your desired consistency. Cook for a few minutes to heat the soup through. Taste and add more salt if desired. Decrease the heat to low, cover, and keep it hot while you make the topping.

    Step 2

    Pour the oil into a medium skillet over medium heat. Remove the stem from the jalapeño and scrape out the ribs and seeds, reserving the seeds. Finely chop the chile and add it to the skillet. Roll the tortillas, thinly slice them, and cut the slivers in half. Add to the skillet and sauté until the tortillas are crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the tortillas and chile to a serving bowl.

    Step 3

    Add the corn, shrimp, and tomatoes to the skillet. Season with salt and sauté just until the shrimp turn opaque and the corn turns bright yellow, 1 to 2 minutes.

    Step 4

    Transfer the corn mixture to the serving bowl and pour in the black bean soup base. Squeeze the lime half onto the soup, spoon the sour cream on top, sprinkle with the cilantro, and eat.

Cover of Joe Yonan's cookbook Serve Yourself Featuring a cherry tomato and squid stir fry.
Reprinted with permission from Serve Yourself: Nightly Adventures in Cooking for One by Joe Yonan. Copyright © 2011 by Joe Yonan. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc. Buy the full book at Amazon or AbeBooks.
Read More
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.
This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.
Hawai‘i's beloved fried chicken is crispy, sweet, and savory.
Crunchy and crowd-pleasing, this salad can be prepared in advance and customized to your heart’s content.
This summery sheet-pan dinner celebrates the bounty of the season and couldn't be simpler to make. Chorizo plays nicely with the salad, thanks to its spice.