nibot ([personal profile] nibot) wrote2009-11-19 09:42 pm
Entry tags:

tortilla soup

It's finally gotten cold here in southern louisiana (hey, it hit 38° one night!). The following recipe really hit the spot:

- soup stock of some kind
- tortilla chips (corn)
- cheese (grated)
- bunch of cilantro (chopped)
- salsa (chunky, spicy)

This sounds like an unnecessarily contrived concoction, but it turned out to be unexpectedly delicious, and perfect for these chilly autumn nights. Heat up the soup (I was told to use chicken stock but instead used a carton of tomato basil soup from whole foods), add the salsa. Put tortilla chips in a bowl, sprinkle cheese on them, and pour in the soup. Add generous helping of cilantro. Warm, spicy, and delicious.

[identity profile] easwaran.livejournal.com 2009-11-20 04:18 am (UTC)(link)
I was about to comment that it hit 38° here in Australia yesterday too, and then ask about why you're using Centigrade rather than Fahrenheit, and then I realized you weren't.

Anyway, that sounds tasty!

[identity profile] nibot.livejournal.com 2009-11-20 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Kenny, do you have some decoding key that will tell us when you are in Australia and when you are in Los Angeles? Or are you in both places at once?

[identity profile] easwaran.livejournal.com 2009-11-21 12:27 am (UTC)(link)
Starting December 18 I won't be in Australia any more, so it'll be easy. I'll just be at USC after that, apart from travel to conferences and lots of visits to Berkeley as long as Matt is still there. Last time I was in LA (not counting a layover at LAX) was in early June.

[identity profile] in-alaska.livejournal.com 2009-11-20 03:00 pm (UTC)(link)
an unnecessarily contrived concoction
You know how to use so many words (that I have to look up)! But what does normally go in a tortilla soup? Tomatoes and avocado? Or is it the use of chips vs fried tortilla pieces (which then become chips)? I remember helping Ry (and you?) make a tortilla soup at the co-op once, but it didn't turn out very well.

[identity profile] in-alaska.livejournal.com 2009-11-20 03:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Also, I will make this.

[identity profile] janviere.livejournal.com 2009-11-20 06:41 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm also wondering, why unnecessarily contrived?

Buy some dried chiles, boil them in broth until soft, then puree and strain. Add some tomato sauce if you want, and your cheese and avocado. (+ onion/garlic/cumin/lime/whatever)

Also frying your own tortillas to make chips = super, duper tasty.

Pureed boiled dried chiles are my favorite recent discovery about cooking.

[identity profile] nibot.livejournal.com 2009-11-20 07:08 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't know... tortilla soup? It just sort of sounds like the sort of unnatural recipe someone would make up just to be cute. I'm suspicious of most recipes that call for salsa as an ingredient.

[identity profile] janviere.livejournal.com 2009-11-20 07:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, tortilla soup is super tasty and great and I have had it many times in restaurants, where it's often not vegetarian.

I too am suspicious of all recipes calling for salsa as an ingredient, because usually it means that whoever invented the recipe doesn't know how to cook from scratch, and really they mean "tomatoes" and possibly some other ingredients. Using things that are not jarred salsa is usually an improvement.

I hope I didn't just insult any of your friends.

[identity profile] in-alaska.livejournal.com 2009-11-21 07:14 pm (UTC)(link)
:) What else would be a recipe that someone would make up to be cute?

[identity profile] furzicle.livejournal.com 2009-11-28 06:35 am (UTC)(link)
The answer to this is that the recipe came from Trader Joe's. Their whole goal is to make EASY recipes that non cooks can make. Hence the jar of salsa. But hey, it works!!! In fact I'm craving some of this soup right now, even though it is after ten at night and I've got two days of turkey dinner under my belt--quite literally!

[identity profile] feralbirdgirl.livejournal.com 2009-11-21 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
oy with the cilantro allergy...

[identity profile] vortexshedding.livejournal.com 2009-11-21 09:31 am (UTC)(link)
are you a veg? where's the protein (other than cheese)? this recipe needs chicken :)