Shrimp and Chicken Tortilla Soup

Dawn's Note:

Tortilla Soup is so good it tastes complicated, but it's not. It is actually a very easy soup to prepare. My family likes to assemble their own soup. The heart of this soup is a delicious chicken and shrimp base with chopped avocados, cheese and crispy tortilla strips available to top as you like. The kids really like "creating" their own soup with the toppings. I lived in Texas where this is a popular soup, it is a combination of 2 recipes. One recipe came straight from Mexico and one I found in a cookbook.

• Total Time: 40 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 6 ounces peeled and deveined medium shrimp
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken
• 1/2 onion (chopped)
• 1 teaspoon cumin seed
• cooking oil, for saute
• 4 1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can Mexican-style tomatoes, undrained
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• 1 -2 avocado (chopped)
• 1/2 cup shredded monterey jack pepper cheese or 1/2 cup monterey jack cheese
• 5 small corn tortillas
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon cooking oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Mix salt and pepper in a small bowl and set aside.
3. Brush corn tortillas with cooking oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper mixture.
4. Cut into strips and place on a cooking sheet.
5. Bake for 5-8 minutes until crisp.
6. Set aside for soup topping.
7. In a large sauce pan saute onion and cumin seed until onion is tender.
8. Add chicken broth, tomatoes,cilantro and lime juice.
9. Bring to a boil and simmer for 8-10 minutes.
10. Stir in chicken and shrimp and cook until shrimp turn pink@ 3-4 minutes.
11. Stir occasionally while shrimp are cooking.
12. Ladle into soup bowls and top with avocado, cheese, and crisp tortilla strips.

Reviews

[RedWonder]

DEE-licious!!! My mexican DH was craving a soup that his mom used to make. He found this recipe and thought it sounded like a good substitute. I used Rotel tomatoes with lime & cilantro, but still used the lime & cilantro called for by the recipe. I made a big pot, and I think it's better the 2nd day! Definitely a keeper!

[Nursebarb]

I agree - great soup! And it is easy to add to - I added a can of corn and can of Barracho beans. I also used leftover smoked chicken. I, too, used tortilla chips. Everyone really loved this - this is a realy keeper! Thanks!

[Recipe Reader]

Another 5 star rating! This is so great. It is light but full of flavor. The tomatoes I used were petite diced tomatoes with jalapenos. And I used tortilla chips - I simply broke them up and put them in the bottom of the bowls before serving the soup. I also tried this with some leftover cooked white rice instead of tortillas. Yum. This recipe is a keeper, thanks Dawn!