Rachael Ray - Chicken Tortilla Soup With Chipotle

One of my Rachael Ray faves! So yummy-spicy-good!

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 3  cups  chicken stock
• 1  lb  chicken tenders
• 1  bay leaf, fresh if available
• 1  tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
• 4  slices bacon, smoky thick center cut, chopped
• 1  onion, finely chopped
• 4  garlic cloves, chopped
• 2  chipotle chiles in adobo, chopped, plus 2 tablespoons sauce
• 1 (28 ounce) can  crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
•  salt
• 4  cups  lightly crushed corn tortilla chips
• 2  cups  shredded fresh smoked mozzarella cheese or 2  cups  smoked sharp white cheddar cheese, 3/4 pound
• 1  lime, cut into wedges
• 1⁄2 red onion, chopped
•  freshly chopped cilantro leaf, for garnish

Directions

1. Bring broth to a simmer and add chicken tenders, poach 6 to 7 minutes with a bay leaf.
2. While chicken poaches, heat extra-virgin olive oil in a medium soup pot or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook until crisp then remove with slotted spoon. Drain off excess fat, leaving 2 to 3 tablespoons in the pan. Add onions and garlic to the skillet and cook 5 minutes then stir in chipotles and tomatoes.
3. Remove chicken from stock, dice and then add to soup. Pass stock through a strainer then add to the soup.
4. Place a pile of crushed tortilla chips in the bottom of each soup bowl. Cover liberally with smoked cheese then ladle the hot soup down over the top. Serve with lime, raw onions and cilantro at table to finish the soup.