Chicken soup is an automatic crowd-pleaser, but this Mexican-inspired tortilla soup does the classic one better. Homemade broth is key here, providing a base for brown rice, black beans, and chunks of sweet potato. Cooling pieces of avocado play off of a warm, earthy undercurrent of chipotle chiles.
•Stock can be made 3 days ahead and chilled (covered once cool). Remove chicken from bones and chill separately. Reheat stock before proceeding with recipe.
•Chipotle-spice purée can be made 1 day ahead and chilled.
Recipe information
Total Time
3 3/4 hr
Yield
Makes 10 to 12 servings
Ingredients
For stock:
For finishing soup:
Preparation
Make stock:
Step 1
Bring all stock ingredients to a boil with 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in an 8-to 10-quart heavy pot, then skim foam.
Step 2
Reduce heat and gently simmer, uncovered, skimming foam occasionally, 2 3/4 hours.
Step 3
Transfer chicken to a cutting board, then pour stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl and discard solids. Reserve
Step 4
1 cup stock and return remainder to cleaned pot.
Finish soup:
Step 5
Toast spices in a dry small skillet (not nonstick) over medium-low heat, shaking skillet occasionally, until fragrant and a shade darker, about 2 minutes.
Step 6
Transfer spices to a blender along with onion, garlic, chipotles with adobo sauce, 2 1/2 teaspoons salt, and reserved stock.
Step 7
Blend until mixture is smooth and spices are ground, about 2 minutes (use caution when blending hot liquids).
Step 8
Add purée to stock in pot along with rice and sweet potatoes and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer, covered, until sweet potatoes and rice are tender, about 45 minutes.
Step 9
While soup simmers, discard skin and bones from chicken and cut or shred meat into bite-size pieces.
Step 10
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°F with racks in upper and lower thirds. Stack tortillas and cut into 1/4-inch-thick strips, then toss with oil. Spread strips in 1 layer on 2 large baking sheets and season with salt.
Step 11
Bake, stirring frequently and switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until deep golden and crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.
Step 12
When rice and sweet potatoes are tender, add chicken and beans to soup and simmer, uncovered, until just heated through, about 5 minutes.
Step 13
Meanwhile, quarter avocados lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
Step 14
Season soup with salt and pepper, then serve with lime wedges, chopped cilantro, avocados, and tortilla strips.
