Meal: Lunch, Dinner
Dietary Type: Vegetarian
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Serves: makes 4 bowls
The Dish
Classic Chicken Tortilla Soup is wonderful, but what about making it a bit healthier?
The soup base is a combination of cilantro, garlic, onion, kale, and tomatillos, slowly simmered in a rich broth with tender white beans. The toppings are always the fun part with tortilla soup, and leave so much room for creativity and personal taste. Listed in this recipe are some of our favorites, but feel free to pick and choose the ones that work best for you.
This recipe can also be made, easily, in your Instant Pot or slow cooker. Add in all of your ingredients, set to low, and let your tasty soup simmer the day away, just hold off on the toppings until you’re ready to serve!
Ingredients
Soup Base
1/4 cup (15g) fresh cilantro
3 (12g) garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 (75g) medium yellow onion, peeled and chopped
1 cup (67g) kale
1 cup (175g) tomatillos or green tomatoes, husks removed
1 tablespoon (14ml) olive oil or avocado oil
1/2 tablespoon (3g) ground cumin
3 cups (709ml) vegetable broth
1 can (15.5oz or 439g) white beans, drained and rinsed
salt to taste
Toppings
2 tablespoons (32g) queso fresco crumbles or shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 each (136g) avocado, peeled and cored
1 each (44g) lime, cut into wedges
4 each (112g) corn tortillas, cut into strips
1 each (150g) small zucchini, diced or thinly sliced
1/2 cup (50g) red cabbage, shredded
1/2 cup (10g) baby arugula
1 each (5g) radish, thinly sliced
1 each (15g) jalapeño, sliced (optional)
Preparation
-Place cilantro, garlic, onion, kale and tomatillos into a food processor and blend until smooth (a little chunky is ok).
-Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat.
-Add you blended mixture to the pot, season with cumin and sauté for 3-4 minutes or until fragrant and bubbly.
-Whisk in broth, reduce heat to medium low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes stirring frequently.
-Stir in beans and continue to simmer for another 5 minutes.
-While the soup is cooking prep your toppings.
-Ladle soup into bowls, top with desired toppings and serve.