Southwest Chicken Soup

Fall is in the air and I am craving warm, comforting foods. This recipe for Southwest Chicken Soup is a twist on an old favorite and it never disappoints. The soup can be served with a variety of toppings, tortilla chips or a loaf of crusty bread.  I usually throw half of it in the freezer, to pull out on a gloomy day.

Ingredients

4 split (2 whole) chicken breasts, bone in, skin on (I have also just purchased a rotisserie chicken :))

Good olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 cups chopped onions (2 onions)

1 cup chopped celery (2 stalks)

2 cups chopped carrots (4 carrots)

4 large cloves garlic, chopped

1 cup frozen corn

2 1/2 quarts chicken stock, preferably homemade

1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes in puree, crushed

2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander seed

Optional Toppings

1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

1 avocado (sliced)

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Tortilla chips

Sour cream

Directions

Place the chicken breasts skin side up on a sheet pan. Rub with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until done. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, discard the skin and bones, and shred the meat. Cover and set aside.

Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the onions, celery, and carrots and cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, or until the onions start to brown. Add the corn and garlic.  Cook for 30 seconds. Add the chicken stock, tomatoes with their puree, jalapenos, cumin, coriander, 1 tablespoon salt (depending on the saltiness of the chicken stock), 1 teaspoon pepper, and the cilantro, if using. Bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 25 minutes. Add the shredded chicken and season to taste. Serve the soup hot topped with sliced avocado, a dollop of sour cream, grated Cheddar cheese, and broken tortilla chips.