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Spicy Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

July 16, 2014 by Joy the Baker 62 Comments

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Spicy Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

Let’s just all admit that it’s weird that I made soup.  Hot soup.  I didn’t even have the decency to make cold soup.  It’s heat hot, it’s spicy hot, it’s just all up in your face hot… smack-dab in the middle of summer.

Some nerve, really.

I need to openly admit that I really miss (I mean… really miss) California Mexican food.  I’ve made so many obscure tacos in my kitchen I might as well buy a taco truck and call it a career.

This soup is SO GOOD! It’s like eating the soup version of a vegetarian enchilada… in a bowl, with a mega amount of fresh toppings!  If you’re looking to beat the heat, may I suggest enjoying this soup while sitting in front of your open refrigerator?

No?

Well.. fine then.

Spicy Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

Here’s how this goes:  lots of chopping.

I start with the tortillas (into rectangle-like strips), move on to yellow bell pepper, try not to kill myself by slicing a jalapeño, measure out the spices, mince the garlic (why do I haaate this!?), and finish with a quick chop of the onion.  Onion last.  Those things can be spicy on the eyes.

This recipe calls for a large can of diced tomatoes.  I picked up a can of the fire-roasted diced tomatoes and loved the results.  Extra toasty!

For spices we’re adding paprika, cumin, coriander (which comes from the cilantro plant!), chili powder, and cayenne.  These create a wonderful balance of smoke and spice.

Spicy Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

Black beans for flavor and protein… and also because sometimes I’m just too lazy to cook chicken.

Even though this soup is labeled vegetarian, I used chicken broth.  I love the flavor.  I hate cooking chicken.  There you have it.

The onions and garlic are cooked down with the canned tomato.  I added the chicken broth and took an immersion blender to the mixture, creating a somewhat smooth soup base.  Then the peppers, and beans are added.  Some smooth.  Some chunky.

Spicy Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

Tortilla soup is nothing without its toppings.. namely, fried tortillas!

I also love all of the fresh ingredients we add to the hot soup:  radish, cilantro sprigs, and avocado bring the crunch and bring the creamy.

Cheese, too… and sour cream. Let’s just go all the way.

Spicy Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

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Spicy Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

Spicy Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

  • Author: Joy the Baker adapted from Food and Wine
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 1x
  • Category: dinner
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Description

A Sweater Weather kind of dinner with loads of delicious toppings


Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 5 corn tortillas, stacked and sliced into small strips
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, juice and all
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, depending on your taste
  • fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1 (14-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, cored and cut into small chunks or fresh corn sliced from 2 ears of corn
  • 1 small jalapeño, seeds and ribs removed and thinly sliced

For the Topping:

corn tortillas (fried above)

4 radishes, thinly sliced

fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped

ripe avocado, sliced

sharp cheddar cheese, grated

sour cream


Instructions

  1. In a large, heavy bottom pot, heat oil over medium-high heat.  Add the tortilla strips in two batches, flipping and frying until crisp.  Drain crisp strips on a paper towel and set aside.

    Reduce the heat to medium heat and add onions.  Cook until translucent and just browned, about 3 to 5 minutes.  Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.  Add paprika, cumin, coriander, chili powder, and cayenne pepper.  Stir and cook for 1 minute more.

    Add the crushed tomatoes, juice and all.  Stir to combine.  Add the chicken broth, salt, and a good sprinkling of black pepper.  Use an immersion blender to blend the mixture until halfway to smooth.  If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can carefully spoon the mixture into a blender to blend until smooth.  Return back to the pot (if using  conventional blender) and heat over low heat.

    Add beans, bell pepper (or corn), and jalapeño and lightly simmer until bell pepper is softened, about 20 minutes.

    To serve, spoon into bowls and top with fried tortilla strips, slice radish, fresh cilantro sprigs, a sprinkling of cheddar cheese, a few slices of avocado, and sour cream.

    Soup will last, in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 5 days.


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Filed Under: Featured Dinner, Healthy, Most Polular Block Two, Recipes, Savory

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Reader Interactions

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I Made This
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  1. Gianna

    February 6, 2020 at 8:05 am

    My bestie and I made this last night. We’ve been cooking your recipes together for about ten years. The soup was fabulous. Thank you again joy.

    Reply
    • Kristin

      February 20, 2022 at 5:41 pm

      What is it about February, I always come back to this soup? :)

      Reply
  2. Lauren

    April 10, 2016 at 10:29 am

    Made this last night and it was delicious! Thank you for posting! <3 <3 Long time follower and first time commenter

    Reply
  3. Athena

    February 8, 2016 at 12:35 pm

    One of my absolute fave soup recipes. Don’t pass this up, y’all! I add little zucchini chunks because i’m a zucchini junkie. Thanks for the best recipes as always, Joy!

    Reply
  4. Barbara

    November 1, 2015 at 1:16 pm

    This soup gives me such fond memories of the beautiful food of Santa Fe, New Mexico…kudos to the radishes, cilantro, and most definitely, some lime juice! The colors!! So harmonizing! Lovely!

    Reply
  5. Alexandra Geller

    June 1, 2015 at 9:11 pm

    I just made this, and it is literally the best tortilla soup I’ve ever had, by far!! Amazing! I’m not usually one for radishes, but I decided to try them out and it was delicious! Definitely don’t skimp on any of the toppings. So good!

    Reply
  6. Aria Edelman

    January 18, 2015 at 9:01 pm

    What a super recipe. Thank you! I tried making this today, and it was absolutely fantastic! I also used adobo peppers in chipotle sauce for an additional smokey kick. I skipped the jalapenos and cayenne powder though, just so it wouldn’t burn a hole through my GI!! PS: I used regular tortilla chips, and they worked just fine too.

    Reply
  7. Alex | Flowers by Month

    December 30, 2014 at 8:07 pm

    You know, it looks like Tom Yam…Maybe it is Asia that effect on me :-)

    Reply
  8. Liba

    October 24, 2014 at 7:10 am

    Made this last night. Perfect for a “chilly” NOLA night. The color of this soup is absolutely incredible!

    Reply
  9. Erin

    October 22, 2014 at 8:17 pm

    For some reason, I had it on my mind all day today that I would make tortilla soup for dinner tonight, and remembered the recipe you posted a few months back. Low and behold I followed through and went to the grocery store after work to pick up the few ingredients I didn’t already have on hand and whipped up a batch (https://instagram.com/p/ueYlShjI5H/?modal=true) . It was so delicious and so easy. Thanks so much for the share!
    -E

    Reply
  10. Lauren

    October 19, 2014 at 10:26 pm

    Oh my goodness this was delicious. Doubled the recipe for a housefull of people and everyone loved it. We left out the radishes and sour cream, but the avocados were definitely necessary…also added juice of one lime for some zing. We also skipped blending it so it was just extra chunky, still awesome :) thanks so much for the recipe!

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      October 20, 2014 at 6:37 am

      sounds fantastic!!

      Reply
  11. veggiehead

    October 15, 2014 at 2:40 pm

    It’s a delicious soup, but just to be picky, it’s not vegetarian if made with the chicken broth the recipe calls for.

    Reply
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