PPQ: Texas Tortilla Soup

in Chicken & Turkey, Cinco de Mayo, Freezer Friendly, Lighter & Healthier, Mexican & TexMex, Project Pastry Queen, Soup, Stew, and Chili

Texas Tortilla Soup

Amanda chose this week’s Project Pastry Queen challenge: Texas Tortilla Soup.

I was super happy to put this on the menu this week. One, our oven is broken (waaah!) and that has really messed with my mind. And our menu. Second, I’ve posted the soup before and it was in dire need of a new photo. But really, it’s because the soup is freakin’ awesome.

The Pastry Queen’s Texas Tortilla Soup has been our go-to chicken tortilla soup recipe for the last 5 years. It’s broth-based, so it’s the rare Mexican food dish that won’t kill you with fat, calories, and sodium. But what really sets it apart from your average tortilla soup is that the body of the soup is built with roasted tomatoes.

Slow-roasting (or fast… depending on how much time you have) the tomatoes removes the excess water, concentrates the flavors, and caramelizes some of the sugars in the tomatoes. The tomatoes are then pureed and added to the broth. The resulting soup has far deeper flavors than the soup from your favorite Mexican restaurant. And topped with a little avocado, chopped onions, cilantro, and jalapenos, and a dollup of fat-free Greek yogurt, it’s wonderfully filling with far fewer calories than the Mexican restaurant soup.

Um, did I mention it’s good for you?

This is one of those great meals that you can make on Sunday and not worry about making dinner again until Wednesday. And it freezes beautifully. One batch feeds us for 3 nights. We usually split a grilled cheese sandwich to go along with it, made with one of those small $.50 bakery baguettes, a couple slices of avocado, and shredded monterrey jack.

Thanks to Amanda for getting my husband so excited about going to the grocery store this week! You can check out the full recipe here and the other PPQ members’ take on the soup here.

18 comments… add one
  • I’m so glad you were happy to make it again! It looks fantastic! 🙂

  • Mmm pure deliciousness!

  • So sorry your oven is broken; are you fixing it or getting a new one? That’s a bummer, but if you get a new one, that’s a great excuse to get your dream oven!
    I love tortilla soup–especially with tons of avocado and melty cheese. 😀 You’ve got a winning recipe here 😀

    • We’re getting a new one. We put my dream oven in our old house but it unfortunately won’t fit in this kitchen. But I’m still very happy with the one we’ve chosen… and we’re down to 11 days and counting until it arrives.

  • Yum, I can’t wait to try this, and I think I need to convince my hubby to make me another tabletop…I love the dark blue!

  • Oh my do I EVER feel you on the oven! Mine broke two summers ago…and it was the worst week of my life. I broke a fever as soon as it happened. I swear.

    I’ve been looking for a rockstar version of tortilla soup that’s figure friendly also…this sounds perfect!

  • Oh, we love tortilla soup. I will have to try this version. Your photo is wonderful. Soup is one of those incredibly difficult things to make pretty in a picture. The recipe I currently use is a family favorite, but I’m intrigued by the roasted tomato base. Looks and sounds delightful!

  • This soup looks great! With the colder weather here in Kansas I have been making a new soup about once a week. This one was just added to my list!

    I know 11 days cannot get here soon enough for you!

  • This looks amazing! I need a new soup for my repertoire. I may be the only Texan who has never had tortilla soup! I don’t know why I’ve never tried or made it-but I have always wanted to.

  • Ooooh definitely trying this soon… I am on a soup kick lately and this looks awesome!

  • This looks amazing!

  • Yum! I’ve made taco soup tons of times, but never a tortilla soup- this healthy version sounds great!

  • What a great recipe! I love how it’s broth based & made with roasted tomatoes. And that it’s healthy! I will be making this very soon, Thanks for the recipe 🙂

  • I’ve yet to make tortilla soup. I’m fairly certain we’d all love it. Going to be trying this soon!

  • Leslie Robinson

    I’ve eaten at the Rather Sweet Bakery a number of times and can say that ANYTHING that woman serves is beyond awesome. I own all her cookbooks and have had absolute success with every recipe — the Sold Old Chicken Pot Pies are so fabulous!!!

  • Victoria

    This is really funny because i found this site from food gawker just now (because of the great picture! ) and i clicked on the link to get the full recipe and realized i already had it in my food gawker favourites (the other photo) LOL! now I *really* can’t wait to try this soup!!!thx!

  • This picture looks amazing! It makes me very hungry… 🙂

  • Okay, I’m convinced – must try this one!

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