posts may contain Amazon affiliate links, which earn me a small commission when you buy (but doesn't cost you anything extra). Occasionally I receive free products and/or run sponsored posts—this will always be stated clearly in the post. Thank you for supporting this blog.

This website contains some quotations, excerpts, and screen clips from copyrighted material. These uses fall well within the copyright doctrine of "Fair Use".
Tuesday, May 18, 2010

10-Minute Shrimp and Tortilla Soup

10-Minute Shrimp and Tortilla Soup
10-Minute Shrimp and Tortilla Soup
It's official.  Tortilla Soup is OFFICIALLY my favorite soup.  Top o' the list.  Numero uno.  The best.  Can't get enough.  Remember a couple of days ago when I tried a different (to me) Tortilla soup recipe?  I liked it.  It was yummy.  But it started me thinking...why in the world was I limiting myself to just one recipe?  Sure, I love it...the bomb, remember!?  God, how much of a dork am I?  I mean...who says the bomb anymore?  Or dork for the matter.  I digress.  But it is.  The bomb.

I love food. I love the combination of earthy, spicy, smooth, bright, crunchy, warm, comforting all in one bowl.  So, then and there I decided that I was going on a quest.  A quest to explore all the different variations of Tortilla Soup...in all their glory!  I know I won't love every one.  But I betcha I'll seriously dig the majority.  Okay, my quest begins here and now.  Well, I guess it really began a few days ago when I first strayed from my "the bomb" recipe.  But now is when it becomes official!

I'm starting my quest off with a bang.  I cleared my head of all expectations of what Tortilla Soup should be and went for a version much different from my first two.
10-Minute Shrimp and Tortilla Soup
I know, right!!! Slurp. Monch. I was seriously pleased with this one! It was simple. It was full of flavor. And if made with DOUBLE the chipotle...it is one hell of a hangover cure! Seriously, a bowl of this with double the chipotle and a bottle of cold cerveza the morning after would have you kickin' in no time! I added the extra cuz we like it hot around here. We're used to it, right? Right.

Unfortunately I didn't realize just how hot I had made it until I accidentally sucked it down my air pipe on the first bite!! Holy coughing fit, Batman! It was like that first pull from a joint or so I've heard that leaves you breathless with tears running down your face. But once you recover and regain composure, there's nothin' but a smile. And sweat...beads of it poppin' up on your forehead and neck. And pulsing lips. Oh man...it was some good sh!t. For those of you who don't dig that feeling - cut down on the chipotle. You've been warned.

Yield: serves 4
10-Minute Shrimp and Tortilla Soup

10-Minute Shrimp and Tortilla Soup

prep time: 5 MINScook time: 10 MINStotal time: 15 mins
Done in just 10 minutes, this fiery shrimp-laden tortilla soup will clear your head (and knock out that hangover).

INGREDIENTS:


  • 8 corn tortillas, cut into thin strips or squares
  • vegetable oil, for frying
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, cut into small dice
  • 4 fat garlic cloves, minced
  • 12-16 chipotles en adobo w/ some of the sauce*, minced
  • 7 cups chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth
  • 3 cups fresh corn (cut from four ears)
  • 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled & deveined
  • sea salt, to taste
To serve:
  • diced avocado
  • fresh cilantro, torn or chopped
  • lime wedges
  • queso fresco, cubed or crumbled

INSTRUCTIONS:


  1. Heat vegetable oil in a small pan over high heat until you see ripples on top. Fry tortilla strips in batches until crisp and golden, just a minute or two per batch, transferring to a paper towel as they are finished. Sprinkle with salt.
  2. Heat olive oil in a small soup pot (4-quart) over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and a pinch of salt. Cook until the onion softens, about 3 minutes. Add chipotles and cook until fragrant, another 30 seconds.
  3. Add broth and bring to a boil; add corn and cook until tender, about a 1 minute. Add shrimp and cook until opaque throughout, 1-2 minutes.
  4. Serve with tortilla strips and desired toppings.
Notes:
  1. *If you don't want blow-your-top-off heat, substitute some chipotle salsa in place of the chopped chipotles and adobo sauce. Equally delicious, but suitable for even those palates that don't like a lot of heat.
Created using The Recipes Generator





UPDATE: The quest has ended. Scroll down to find links to each roundup!

Okay, now...I NEED YOUR HELP!!!  I know lots of you who already love (or at least tolerate) Tortilla soup and still others who want to try it...NOW is the time!  Actually...anytime over the next year, but the sooner the better.  I am going to be trying new recipes from all sorts of sources...whatever I can get my Tortilla Soup-lovin' hands on!  I want to hear your favorites, as well...I also want to hear about your not-so-favorites.

Here's whatcha do:
My quest is scheduled to last 1 year. ONE WHOLE YEAR!  I've left the link-er-thingy open for a year.  You can link your recipes (as many as you like, as long as they're Tortilla Soup) any time in the next year, as well.  I hope to try at least one new recipe a month.  At least.  Also, no worries if somebody else has already blogged a certain recipe...we all know how each person has different tastes and different interpretations and different adaptations...I want to know Tortilla Soup inside and out by the time the year is out.  I think it'll be fun to see the variations as the seasons change...at peak tomatoes & corn & chiles vs. canned, dried, frozen...ah, the possibilities.  I can't wait to see if my original favorite is my favorite after a year on my quest.

Tortilla Soup Roundup Posts