STEPFAMILY ASSOCIATION

Chicken Tortilla Soup
Serves 4

Ingredients
3-1/2 cups chicken broth
2 whole small chicken breasts (about 1-1/2 pounds total)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 14-1/2-ounce can tomatoes, cut up
1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
1 4-ounce can whole green chili peppers, rinsed, seeded, and cut into thin bite-size strips
1/4 cup snipped fresh cilantro or parsley
1 tablespoon snipped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
6 5-1/2 inch corn tortillas
Cooking oil
1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (4 ounces)
 
Directions
1. Place broth in large saucepan or Dutch oven; add chicken. Bring to
 boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, about 15 minutes or until
chicken is tender and no longer pink. Remove chicken from broth. Let
stand until cool enough to handle.
2. Skin, bone, and finely shred chicken; set aside. Discard skin and
bones. Strain broth through large sieve or colander lined with two
layers of 100-percent-cotton cheesecloth. Skim fat from broth; set
broth aside.
3. In same saucepan cook onion, cumin, and garlic in 1 tablespoon hot
 oil until onion is tender but not brown. Stir in strained broth,
undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili peppers, cilantro, and oregano.
Bring to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Stir
 in chicken; heat through.
4. Cut tortillas in half, then cut them crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide
strips. In a heavy medium skillet heat 1/4 inch of oil. Fry strips in
hot oil, half at a time, about 1 minute or until crisp and light brown
. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels.
5. Divide tortilla strips among 4 bowls. Ladle soup over tortilla
 strips. Sprinkle each serving with cheese.
Serve immediately.