Bill Knapps Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipes

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP WITH CRISPY TORTILLA STRIPS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook until very tender and browned in spots, about 6 minutes. Add the coriander and cumin and cook until the spices have toasted slightly and become fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of the chicken broth, then scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Remove from the heat and let it cool for 5 minutes or so, then transfer it to a blender. Add the tomatoes, chipotle, the torn tortillas, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Put the lid on, leaving one corner open. Cover the lid with a kitchen towel to catch splatters, and pulse until smooth, about 1 minute.
• Pour the soup back into the pot and stir in the remaining 3 cups chicken broth, 2 cups water and the shredded chicken. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium-low and gently simmer until the chicken is very tender and the soup has thickened slightly, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, pour oil into a large heavy-bottomed pot to a depth of 2 inches. Place over medium heat and heat to 365 degrees F. Add the tortilla strips, in two batches, and fry until golden brown and crisp, about 1 minute. Drain on a paper-towel-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with salt.
• Add the lime juice to the soup, then season with salt and pepper. Ladle into soup bowls, top with the crispy tortilla strips, reserved diced onion, cilantro, avocado and queso fresco. Serve with remaining lime wedges.

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Start by mixing together the cumin, 1 teaspoon of the chilli powder, the garlic powder and salt. Drizzle the chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Then sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of the spice mixture. Set the rest of the spice mixture aside. Bake until the chicken is cooked all the way through, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove it from the oven. Cut the chicken into cubes and set aside.
• Next, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Throw in the onions, green and red bell peppers and garlic. Throw in a tablespoon of the spice mixture used to season the chicken. Add a little extra chilli powder (about 1/4 teaspoon) for heat. Stir to cook the vegetables until they begin to turn golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the cubed chicken and diced tomatoes, juice and all. Add the chicken broth, hot water and tomato paste. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Add the drained black beans. Next, mix together the cornmeal with 1/2 cup water. Add the mixture to the pot, and then simmer the soup for 10 to 15 minutes. Give it a taste and add salt or seasonings as needed; be sure to not under salt it!
• Cut the tortillas into uniform 2- to 3-inch strips. Stir most of them into the soup just before serving. This is what makes tortilla soup tortilla soup! Turn off the heat and get ready to serve it up. Ladle the soup into a bowl, then add avocado, red onion, sour cream, cilantro and extra tortilla strips to the top. The more toppings on tortilla soup, the merrier.

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP I

Steps:

• In a medium stock pot, heat oil over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic in oil until soft. Stir in chili powder, oregano, tomatoes, broth, and water. Bring to a boil, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Stir in corn, hominy, chiles, beans, cilantro, and chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes.
• Ladle soup into individual serving bowls, and top with crushed tortilla chips, avocado slices, cheese, and chopped green onion.

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• Put the chicken, the beef bones if you're using them, 3 of the onion quarters and the garlic in a large pot. Add water just to cover (about 10 cups) and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat so the liquid bubbles gently. Cook, skimming the foam off the surface every now and then, until the chicken is very tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, put the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot but not smoking, fry 2 of the tortillas (one at a time if necessary), turning once, until crisp and golden, 2 to 3 minutes per tortilla. Drain on paper towels. Cut the 4 remaining tortillas into strips, add them to the skillet and fry, stirring to separate them, until crisp and golden, another 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt while they're still warm.
• When the chicken is tender, transfer it to a plate or cutting board with tongs or a slotted spoon (or put it in the fridge or freezer so it cools faster). When it's cool enough to handle, shred the meat with your fingers, discarding the bones and the skin. (If you used beef, discard it or save it for another use.)
• While the chicken is cooling, strain the stock and discard the solids. Peel the remaining quarter of an onion and put it in a blender with the chipotle, 1/4 cup of the cilantro and a sprinkle of salt. Crumble in the two whole fried tortillas and add enough stock to fill the blender a little more than halfway. Purée until the mixture is as smooth as possible.
• Pour the purée and remaining stock back into the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat so the mixture bubbles gently and cook for 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in the shredded chicken, taste and add more salt if necessary. Divide the avocados, the cheese and the remaining 1/4 cup cilantro among 4 to 6 bowls. Ladle the soup into the bowls and garnish with the fried tortilla strips. Serve immediately with lime wedges if you like.

BILL KNAPP'S BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400F and grease a pie plate.
• In medium bowl stir sugar with Bisquick just to combine.
• Set aside.
• Put remaining ingredients in a blender.
• Blend on high speed about 30
• seconds or until smooth and completely combined.
• Pour into Bisquick mixture and stir with a large spoon until fully incorporated and dough comes away from the side of the bowl.
• Dust your hands with Bisquick and knead dough until smooth and elastic - about 5 minutes.
• Shape dough into 8 equal patties, each about 1 inch thick.
• Place evenly in pie plate.
• Brush top of each biscuit with dab of soft butter or margarine.
• Cover with inverted glass bowl or lid sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
• Allow biscuits to rise for about 30 minutes.
• Bake approximately 15 minutes or until golden brown and doubled in size.

BILL KNAPP VEGETABLE BEEF SOUP

Steps:

• 1. In saucepan, combine tomato juice & broth.
• 2. Add steak & vegetables and heat until meat & vegetables are tender, without boiling hard.