The mansion's tortilla soup

 
                        The Mansion's Tortilla Soup
 
 Recipe By     : 
 Serving Size  : 8    Preparation Time :0:00
 Categories    : Texas                            Southwester
 
   Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
 --------  ------------  --------------------------------
    3       tb           Corn oil
    4                    Corn tortillas -- coarsely
                         Chopped
    6                    Cloves garlic -- finely
                         Chopped
    1       tb           Fresh epazote -- chopped
                         (or 1 tablespoon chopped
                         Fresh cilantro)
    1       c            Fresh onion puree
    2       c            Fresh tomato puree
    1       tb           Cumin powder
    2       ts           Chili powder
    2                    Whole bay leaves
    4       tb           Canned tomato puree
    2       qt           Chicken stock
                         Salt -- to taste
                         Cayenne pepper -- to taste
    1                    Cooked chicken breast -- cut
                         In strips
    1                    Avocado -- peel, seed &
                         Cube
    1       c            Cheddar cheese -- shredded
    3                    Corn tortillas, cut in
                         Strips -- fried crisp
 
   Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
   
   Saute tortillas with garlic and epazote over medium
   heat until tortillas are soft. Add onion and fresh
   tomato puree and bring to a boil. Add cumin, chili
   powder, bay leaves, canned tomato puree, and chicken
   stock. Bring to a boil again, then reduce heat to
   simmer. Add salt and cayenne pepper to taste and cook,
   stirring frequently, for 30 minutes. Skim fat from
   surface, if necessary.
   
   Strain and pour into warm soup bowls.  Garnish each
   bowl with an equal portion of chicken breast, avocado,
   shredded cheese, and crisp tortilla strips. Serve
   immediately.
   
   Soup may be made one day ahead and gently reheated
   before serving with garnishes.
   
   Chef's Note:  This soup has been on the menu at the
   restaurant at The Mansion on Turtle Creek since it
   opened in 1985. According to executive chef Dean
   Fearing, "When Tortilla Soup is ordered, it is brought
   to the table in a tureen for individual service by the
   waiter, who garnishes each bowl according to the
   customer's desire."
   
   Recipe By     : Dean Fearing of The Mansion on Turtle
   Creek
   
   From: Caitlin Davis Carlson, Seaview,wa
  
 
 
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