Pumpkin Tortilla Soup Perfection!

Rita~'s Note:

Tickle you taste buds with this Hearty, Comforting, Spicy Soup. It is thicken with pumpkin puree and tomato paste. A culinary flavor explosion from the onion, garlic, lime, chipotle and dried chili. Textures you mouth will enjoy from the crisp tortillas, to creamy avocados. Use either the guajillo chile a pointed, long and narrow with a shiny, deep red skin. It can be rather hot and is used to round out the flavor in both sauces and in cooked dishes. OR you can use the Ancho which is deep reddish-brown in color, the rich, slightly fruity and is the sweetest of the dried chiles. Give it a try you'll be happy you did!

• Total Time: 2 mins
• Prep Time: 1 mins
• Cook Time: 1 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• olive oil
• 1 boneless skinless chicken breast
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ teaspoon cardamom
• 1 onion , diced
• 3 garlic cloves , minced
• 3 baby carrots , fine diced
• 1 dried guajillo chile , soaked in warm water removed seed and sliced thin
• 1 chipotle chile in adobo , seeds removed and diced
• 1 cup white wine (water can be used)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 cup canned pumpkin or 1 cup pureed butternut squash
• 32 ounces organic low-fat chicken broth
• 1 cup frozen corn , brought to room temperature

Garnishes

• oil , for frying
• 8 corn tortillas , sliced
• 1 -2 avocado , diced
• 1 lime , sliced
• sour cream , to taste
• 1 bunch cilantro , rough chopped

Directions:

1. Coat breast with salt, pepper and cardamom. Heat oil in a pot medium high heat. Brown chicken on both sides and remove setting a side. Will not be completely cooked at this point.
2. Add to pot onion, garlic and carrots saute till tender about 5 minutes adding a touch more oil if needed.
3. Add chiles.
4. Add wine to deglaze and reduce completely.
5. Add tomato paste and stir to coat onion mixture. Cook 3 minutes stirring constantly.
6. Add pumpkin puree stir in and follow with chicken broth. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer.
7. Dice browned chicken and add to pot.
8. Add corn and 2 tablespoon cilantro. Simmer till tortillas are ready.
9. Meanwhile heat inch oil and fry corn tortilla strips in batches. When browned remove to paper towel to drain and season with salt.
10. These are tempting so you may want to fry a couple extra. ;).
11. In bowls place tortilla strips, ladle soup over tortillas.
12. Garnish with additional cilantro, avocados, sour cream and lime slices to be squeezed over soup.

Reviews

[Starrynews]

Well, I don't know what to add that the description doesn't already say! This IS hearty and loaded with flavor! Love the combo of spicy, sweet, and tangy. Thanks for sharing!

[Sheepie87]

Absolutely delicious! I didn't have either of the dried chilis so I just used extra chipotle (my favorite). I also omitted the chicken breast. This is so fast, easy, and delicious! Mine is extra-spicy, but that's how I like it! Love the pumpkin addition; helps to clear the pantry. Thank you!

[cookiedog]

Perfecto is right! Love this one. I tried to make a tortilla soup for this RSC but I bow down to your entry. The pumpkin thickens up the soup just ever so slightly. I used an ancho chile along with the chipotle giving the soup a rich smokiness. The balance of ingredients is absolutely perfect! You deserve a medal for this soup.