Tortola Tortilla Soup
Every cuisine has its special chicken soup, a recipe that cooks turn to in order to cure a cold or to warm the insides on a chilly day. Tortilla soup is the chicken soup of Mexico. Often, it is merely a spicy, thin broth with a garnish of fried tortillas, but our version is lightly thickened and topped with fresh corn salsa. Be sure to make the roasted garlic (below) before starting.
Makes 6 servings
Roasted Garlic (Makes about 3 Tbsp)
2 large, plump heads garlic, or about 24 peeled garlic cloves
1/3 cup/75 ml olive oil, plus more as needed
Grilled Corn Salsa
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup/175 g grilled corn kernels (from 2 ears corn)
1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro
Soup
6 cups/1.4 L canned reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 lb./455 g chicken thighs
3 Tbsp unsalted butter
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
½ cup/80 g chopped green bell pepper
1 Tbsp mashed Roasted Garlic
3½ corn tortillas, coarsely chopped (3 oz./85 g)
1/3 cup/45 g all-purpose flour
1 tsp kosher salt
1½ tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
½ cup/120 ml Lime Sour Cream (see below), for serving
2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro, for serving
Lime Sour Cream
½ cup/120 ml sour cream
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice