Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup

Wash, rinse and soak the beans all day or overnight. Canned beans may be used, but rinse them really well.

Saute onion in butter and olive oil over medium heat until the onion begins to caramelize. Reduce heat and add the garlic and saute for another minute. Rinse chilies and add them to the pan and mix to combine.

Meanwhile, in a large stock pot, heat the chicken broth (save about a cup for later – to deglaze your chicken pan), adding oregano, seasoned salt, chili powder, southwest seasoning blend and pepper to taste. Add the onions, garlic and chilies. The soup can be blended at this time – put it in a blender or use an immersion blender.

In a bowl, combine the cubed chicken breasts with tequila (optional) and juice of 1 lime. Season with a sprinkle of seasoned salt, southwest seasoning blend and chili powder and Northwood’s seasoning blend.

Marinate the chicken while a saute pan is heating with a splash of olive oil. Add the chicken and marinade and saute over medium high heat until chicken in nicely browned. Add chicken to soup, using the reserved broth to de-glaze the saute pan (just stir the broth around for a few minutes to loosen all of the browned bits). Be sure to add the de-glazing liquid back into the soup.

At this time, soup can be finished and served or covered and simmered until about 10 minutes prior to serving. Add half and half to soup and reseason as needed while heating up some olive oil in another saute pan. Fry tortillas over medium high heat until crisp and brown. Blot excess oil off of the tortillas and sprinkle with a mixture of salt, southwest seasoning blend and chili powder.

Serve soup in individual bowls. Quarter remaining limes to be squeezed in as garnish. Tortillas can be dipped or torn and added to individual bowls. Optional garish: sour cream and/or your favorite cheese.

NOTE: I prefer Penzy’s spices. They can be found at your local stores or online. The southwest and Northwood’s seasoning blends can be found at Penzy’s. Cayenne or red pepper and smoked paprika can be substituted, respectively, but the effect isn’t quite as good. Enjoy!!