Vegetarian Tortilla Soup Recipe

If you love ample flavor and lots of spice mixed in a warm and hearty soup, this recipe is for you. Tortilla Soup has become one of my favorites and I've altered the original recipe to suit my tastes and vegetarian diet. Although the basic recipe is free from meat, chicken can be added, as well as several toppings, such as shredded cheddar, sour cream, avocado and crispy tortilla chips.

This recipe will take about 30 minutes from start to finish. It requires the use of a food processor or a handheld wand blender (my personal favorite) to create the smooth texture. You'll be left with a pot of fresh, delicious soup that can serve up to six people.

You will need:

• 1 Large onion sliced into wedges
• 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
• 4 cloves of garlic (more or less, depending on your preference will work fine)
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil or grapeseed oil
• 2 Cups of salsa (pick your favorite!)
• 1 Teaspoon dried oregano
• 8 Cups of vegetable stock (for vegetarian version) or chicken stock
• 1  Cup corn tortillas, torn into small pieces

Start with the oil in a large pot and heat until shimmering. Add the cumin, garlic and onion and sautee for 4 minutes. Add the oregano, stock and salsa Over medium heat, bring to a gentle boil. Allow the soup to simmer for 15 minutes, then add the torn tortillas. Let them cook until they soften, about five minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and use a handheld blender to blend the soup into a smooth and creamy texture. Alternately, you can ladle the soup into your food processor or regular blender in small amounts and blend.

These are just a few of my favorite toppings to go along with this soup. Feel free to use whatever you like and experiment with your own favorites!

• Tortilla Chips (my favorite are the baked or whole grain variety)
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Fresh cilantro
• Low fat sour cream
• Avocado (one or two chopped up)
• Hot sauce

• To add protein to this vegetarian soup, add tofu or beans ( I use black beans in this recipe) before leaving the soup to simmer.
• For non-vegetarians, add grilled chicken or boneless chicken breasts, sliced when you leave the soup to simmer. Remove the chicken before adding the tortillas and blending the soup. Put it back in when the soup is complete.

Gather the family around the table and serve the soup. Set out all the different toppings in the center of your table, so everyone can design the final taste and look of their soup to match their preferences. Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge for a couple of days. It tastes just as good warmed up later!

I hope you enjoy sharing my favorite soup with your family!