Ingredients

  • 1 dried ancho chile
  • 12 cup boiling water
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch in coins
  • 2 stalks celery, cut into 1/2-inch slices
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and quartered
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans chopped tomatoes
  • 6 corn tortillas
  • vegetable oil, for frying
  • sliced avocado
  • monterey jack cheese (shredded or crumbled)
  • sour cream
  • salsa
  • lime wedge
  • cilantro

Method

  • Place chili in small, heatproof bowl, pour boiling water over and let soak for 30 minutes.
  • Drain, remove stem and seeds and slice into 1/2 inch strips and set aside.
  • In heave Dutch oven or soup pan, heat olive oil over medium high heat.
  • Add chicken, season with salt and pepper, brown both sides, about 10 minutes total.
  • Add onion, carrots and celery and continue to cook about 8 minutes, stirring often.
  • Add garlic and cumin and cook an additional 2 minutes.
  • Add broth, reserved chili, tomatoes and cilantro and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat and simmer about 15 minutes.
  • With your hands, tear 3 tortillas into 2-inch strips and add to soup.
  • Continue to simmer about 15 minutes.
  • With slotted spoon, remove chicken to a cutting board, take soup off heat.
  • With an immersion blender, puree soup until smooth (or puree in small batches in a food processor.
  • With tow forks, shred chicken, return to soup.
  • Season soup to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Slice remaining tortillas into 1/4 inch strips.
  • In small saucepan, heat 1 inch of vegetable oil until very hot.
  • Fry tortilla strips until crisp, about 1 minute.
  • With slotted spoon, remove strips to paper-towel-lined plate and season with salt.
  • Serve soup in bowls topped with tortilla strips and any or all of the optional garnishes to include sliced avocado, cheese, sour cream, salsa, lime wedges and/or Cilantro.