Can you believe this soup dates back over 500 years? Sopa Azteca is a spicy and hearty soup that predates Spain’s colonization of Mexico. Though it’s exact origins are clouded in mystery, the ingredients used in Sopa Azteca are quite common in pre-Hispanic and modern day Mexican cuisine. This soup consists of dried chilies, tomatoes, beans and chicken. This is the ideal soup to make as the weather turns from hot and sunny to cold and damp.
ingredients
Tomato Mixture
Seasoned Chicken
Fried Tortillas
To Garnish
directions
In a small bowl, combine the chilies with boiling water and let soak for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium pan, sauté onions and garlic in olive oil for 3 minutes or until slightly caramelized.
In a blender, add the canned tomatoes, black beans, onions and garlic mixture, excess chile water and dried oregano. Blend for 2 minutes or until velvety smooth.
In a bowl, marinate chicken breasts with paprika, smoked paprika, olive oil and salt. Set aside in refrigerator until step 5.
In a Dutch oven, combine broth and tomato mixture. Bring to a boil then simmer for 30 minutes on medium-low. Add salt to taste. Stir periodically to ensure velvet consistency.
While the soup continues to simmer, place chicken breasts in a medium-sized pan with olive oil. Fry over medium heat for 10 minutes, or until crispy and cooked all the way through. Remove from pan and set aside to cool slightly.
In a small saucepan, heat neutral oil over medium-high. On a cutting board, slice corn tortillas into long strips. Add corn tortillas into oil and fry for 30 seconds or until light golden brown. Place corn tortillas on a plate lined with paper towels.
Shred chicken into fine thread-like pieces. Set aside.
To assemble the soup, add a dollop of shredded chicken to a soup bowl, followed by soup mixture (amount to your liking). Top with sour cream, cheese, fried tortilla strips, avocado and cilantro. Squeeze fresh lime for some added zing. Serve immediately with leftover tortilla strips on the side.
