Friday, May 6, 2011

Grilled Chicken Tortilla Soup with Tequila Crema


Grilled Chicken Tortilla Soup with Tequila Crema, the name of the dish alone was enough to make me buy the cookbook, but after reading the list of ingredients, I knew what I would be having for dinner last night.  I picked up Guy Fieri's new cookbook "Guy Fieri Food" in Pebble Beach last weekend and as soon as I got home I book marked a couple of recipes, including this one.

I feel like I've been running all week and getting nowhere, so I decided to tweak Guy's dish a bit and make it easier for a weeknight, while still preserving all the yummy flavors he had in the dish.

My version:
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 teaspoons canola or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Guy called for marinating the chicken for 6-8 hours, I love marinating meat, I just usually need a little more lead time than I had on this night.  

Instead I rubbed the breasts with the canola oil and sprinkled the seasonings all over until the breasts were well coated.  Heat up your grill or a grill pan and cook the chicken until fully cooked. Also you will be grilling a jalapeno at the same time until charred.  Once the chicken is cool, shred the meat and set aside.  Peel the pepper and remove the seeds, chop and set aside.


Soup Base:
1 jalapeno
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 yellow onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon chili powder (I added 1 tablespoon to add a little more flavor)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 quarts chicken stock
One 14.5 ounce can crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
Juice of 1 lime
1 corn tortilla, cut into 1/4 inch strips

Heat a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat and pour in the vegetable oil.  Once hot, add the onion and cook until it just starts to brown, 5 to 7 minutes.  Add the garlic, jalapeno, chili powder, cumin and salt and pepper to taste.  Cook, stirring 3 to 4 minutes, taking care not to burn the mixture.

Add some of the chicken stock and scrape up any brown bits for the bottom of the pan.  Add the remaining chicken stock, tomatoes, lime juice, and strips from the 1 tortilla.  Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes.  Taste and adjust the seasoning.

For Serving:
2 cups vegetable oil, for frying
8 corn tortillas, cut into 1/4 inch wide strips
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
Pinch chili powder
3/4 cup sour cream 1 ounce tequila
Grated zest of 1 lime
1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1 Hass avocado, pitted, peeled and diced
1/2 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
Lime wedges, for garnish

When you're ready to serve, heat the vegetable oil in a deep skillet to 350 degrees F.  Add the tortilla strips in batches and fry until golden brown.  Transfer to a paper-towel lined plate and season with the teaspoon of salt and a pinch of chili powder.

Combine the sour cream, tequila, and lime zest in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper.

To serve, put some of the shredded chicken in the bottom of each bowl and pour in the hot soup base.  Top with diced avocado, fried tortilla strips, the tequila crema, and cilantro.  Garnish with lime wedges and serve.

Serves 4-6



My notes:
Overall I thought the flavor of this soup was outstanding, I don't know how much more marinating the chicken will add, but I will try it again at a later date.  The tequila crema was really good, matter of fact I think my crema in the above photo is smiling at me.  Plus the recipe gets an extra bonus for the fact the whole family ate it without complaints, minus the tequila crema for my daughter.

Enjoy,

Gina

34 comments:

  1. That soup is just packed with flavour in all the stages. I've never made this soup before but I ought to try. My children are into spicy food these days.

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  2. Wow this soup looks fantastic! I would totally enjoy the crunchy tortilla and the yummy soup. Have a great weekend!

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  3. What a delightful soup! I love the cute little strips of tortilla on top...great presentation!

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  4. Fantastic soup Gina..Thank you for sharing your recipe and beautiful photos!!!!
    Happy Friday to you!!

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  5. This is such a great soup. It looks so pretty and I love the Mexican flavors!

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  6. This soup looks great! I love Tortilla soup. You make it look beautiful!

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  7. Your crema is smiling! I totally see it (and it made me smile too). I think you're right about the marinading not making that big a difference, especially with all the big, bold flavors in that soup. It looks delicious (and your photos are FoodGawker worthy ::snort::). They are seriously beautiful.

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  8. I think it is smiling at you too :) Beautiful job on the soup Gina!
    Hope you have a great weekend :)

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  9. Gorgeous pictures Gina;-)
    I'm forwarding your link to my son because he loves tortilla soup and is always asking me for a recipe!

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  10. Welcome back! Mmm I love tortilla soup!

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  11. Such terrific flavors in this delicious looking soup! I love the sound of the tequila crema!

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  12. First, I love the sound of tequila anything! Second, I love that you tweaked some of Guy's original methods and seasonings. It's fun to cook like the 'stars' but sometimes difficult on a regular night at home.... without running to the grocery store at least! Looks great - I have bookmarked this one. :)

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  13. Oh! And I love the smile in the tequila creme- so cute! I see it too!

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  14. Wow! I love your version of the soup with so many wonderful flavors, and topped with Tequila crema. Sometimes, you can marinante for only a couple of hours, and get close to the same effect. Your pics are gorgeous.

    Have a Happy Mother's Day!

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  15. I love what you've done with this soup! Sounds amazing and like comfort in a bowl... I love the pictures too... :) Thanks for sharing this with us... Happy Mother's Day, Gina! :)

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  16. Awesome. All around. Everything about this dish is perfect. And your crema is totally smiling. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  17. How right you are!! That title simply turned my head. With tortilla soup being a family favorite, this is definitely on our list!!

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  18. This is one of my favorite soups and you made it look so, so good!

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  19. The soup looks so tasty! Love the tortilla strips atop.

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  20. I wish it wasn't so stinkin hot here.. otherwise this fabulous looking soup would be mine! I will definitely bookmark it though :)

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  21. Gosh, Gina, this looks fabulous! A warm spicy bowl of goodness!

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  22. Gina, that soup looks ammmmazing! And your photos are absolutely gorgeous!

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  23. Gina, this looks and sounds muy delicioso!!!!
    Your pics almost jump right off the page (wish they did!) :)

    Happy Mother's Day!!! xo

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  24. That does sound delicious. And yay to you for tweeking it to work for a weeknight meal!!

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  25. Wow, Gina...love your version of the soup, with the tortilla strips on the top. So delicious!
    Thanks for sharing such a great recipe.

    I hope your had a wonderful Mother's Day. I received the cookies yesterday, and was so excited, could not wait to tear the box open. Such yummy and truly homemade cookies by you. I gave one container to Lora, for them to enjoy...Gabriella loved it so much too. Will post about it on my next post.
    Thank you, ever so much:DDD
    xo

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  26. I thought I had satisfied my cravings for Mexican food this past week but one look at your soup and I need it. Looks so good.

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  27. I love tortilla soup and yours looks perfect, Gina. There's nothing I don't like about your version but next time, I'll definitely try your tequila crema--sounds so good!

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  28. such good flavors.. wow.. looks too good

    New to ur space and Happy to follow u..
    Do visit me a stime permits..
    http://comeletseat.blogspot.com

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  29. What a perfect meal Gina; wish I could have been there to enjoy it with you. Always wanted to make Tortilla soup.

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  30. great soup and thanks for traveling with me :-) hugs Rebecca

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  31. I can definitely see that smiley face in your crema, Gina! This spicy tortilla soup certainly has me all Fieri-ed up...LOL. The colors are gorgeous and I bet it tasted the same way too!

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  32. I want this, I want this now :) Now that's a tortilla soup. I love the grilled jalapeno. My mouth is watering so much and it's almost dinner time. I will need to bookmark this so I can make it soon. Thanks for sharing Gina. Hope you had a lovely mother's day, hugs :)

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  33. Fiery looking tortilla soup, with its exotic flavors to fill the taste buds too!
    Happy Mother's Day!!~

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