This tortilla soup recipe has a wealthy, aromatic broth full of corn and black beans. We like it with crispy tortilla strips and avocado on high!
Tortilla soup is certainly one of my favourite meals. Not simply certainly one of my favourite soups (although in fact it’s), however certainly one of my favourite meals typically. I really like how the wealthy, flavorful broth contrasts with toppings like crunchy tortilla strips and creamy avocado. Now that the temperatures are cooling off for the season, you possibly can wager that I’ll have this tortilla soup recipe on repeat.
Tortilla soup (or sopa de tortilla or sopa Azteca) is assumed to have originated in central Mexico, although yow will discover regional variations all through Mexico and the US at the moment. I can’t declare that this vegetarian recipe is fully genuine, particularly since most conventional tortilla soups are made with hen broth and typically shredded hen breast. Nonetheless, this twist is scrumptious—hearty, warming, and filled with daring taste. Presently of yr, I can’t get sufficient of it. I hope you like it too!
Tortilla Soup Recipe Substances
Right here’s what you’ll have to make this vegetarian tortilla soup recipe:
- Tortillas, in fact! Corn tortillas solely, please! You’ll mix one into the broth to thicken and taste the soup and crisp up the remaining to make use of as a topping.
- Dried chiles – A pasilla chile could be most conventional. Nonetheless, I’ve higher luck discovering Guajillo and ancho chiles at my grocery retailer, so I’m calling for them right here. They provide the soup its placing coloration and add SO a lot depth of taste.
- Fireplace-roasted diced tomatoes – Together with the dried chiles and blended tortilla, they create the soup’s thick, aromatic base.
- Avocado oil – Its impartial style makes it an important alternative for this recipe, however you would sub extra-virgin olive oil if that’s what you retain readily available.
- Onion and garlic – For candy, fragrant taste. I like to order some uncooked onion to make use of as a topping.
- Black beans and corn – They make the soup hearty and satisfying. Recent and frozen corn each work right here, however I all the time go for contemporary corn if it’s in season.
- Floor cumin and dried oregano – They add earthy complexity.
- Vegetable broth – Use store-bought, or make your personal. Water works right here too.
- And salt and pepper – To make all of the flavors pop!
And don’t neglect the toppings! Sliced radishes, contemporary cilantro, bitter cream, avocado, and crumbled Cotija are all nice.
Discover the entire with measurements beneath.
The way to Make Tortilla Soup
Step one on this tortilla soup recipe is toasting the dried chiles and tortilla. Use kitchen scissors to chop off the stems of the chiles, then slit them vertically from their trimmed tops to their pointed ideas. Take away the seeds, and unfold the chiles open in order that they lay flat.
Toast the chiles in a dry skillet over medium warmth till they’re delicate and aromatic. Toast the tortilla on each side till it puffs up and turns into evenly charred.
Then, mix the soup’s flavorful base. Place the tomatoes in a blender with the toasted chiles and tortilla. Mix properly till fully easy. Earlier than shifting on to the following step, stir the puree to examine its consistency. You wish to ensure that no chunks of chile pores and skin stay. If you happen to see any, maintain mixing.
Subsequent, sauté the aromatics. Add the avocado oil to a big pot, and prepare dinner the onion till it’s delicate. Fast observe: I prefer to put aside some uncooked onion to make use of as a topping. If you happen to like uncooked onion too, don’t add all of it to the pot on this step.
Stir within the spices and prepare dinner for 30 seconds. Then, pour within the tomato puree and prepare dinner for two minutes.
Then, simmer the soup. Add the garlic, water, and beans and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir within the corn kernels and simmer for one more 10 minutes.
In the meantime, put together the toppings. Lower the remaining tortillas into skinny strips, and toss them with oil and salt. Toast within the oven till they’re curled and crisp. Whereas they prepare dinner, put together another toppings you wish to use.
Lastly, serve the soup in bowls along with your desired fixings and a squeeze of contemporary lime juice. Get pleasure from!
Tortilla Soup Serving Strategies
This tortilla soup recipe is greatest with numerous toppings to accent the aromatic broth. Right here’s what I prefer to placed on mine:
- Crispy tortilla strips. This tasty topping is tremendous simple to make (search for detailed directions within the recipe beneath!), however if you wish to simplify, you would sub crushed tortilla chips.
- Cotija cheese. Crumbled feta works too!
- Sliced radishes
- Diced onion
- Sliced or diced avocado
- Recent cilantro
And I all the time serve this soup with lime wedges for squeezing!
Storing Leftover Soup
Retailer leftover tortilla soup with out toppings. It retains properly for as much as 4 days in an hermetic container within the fridge. Retailer leftover tortilla strips at room temperature.
The soup additionally freezes properly. Let it thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating it on the stovetop or within the microwave.
This soup thickens because it sits, so I often add a splash of water to loosen it up once I reheat it.
Extra Favourite Soup Recipes
If you happen to love this soup, strive certainly one of these scrumptious soup recipes subsequent:
On the lookout for extra Mexican recipes? Take a look at my enchiladas or chilaquiles!

Tortilla Soup
Serves 4 to six
Our favourite tortilla soup recipe! It options black beans and corn simmered in a aromatic tomato broth. To take it excessive, pile your bowl with avocado, Cotija cheese, and many crispy tortilla strips.
- 2 dried Guajillo or ancho chiles
- 8 corn tortillas
- 2 (14-ounce) cans diced fire-roasted tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil, plus extra for drizzling
- 1 giant white onion, diced, reserve ⅓ cup for topping
- 1½ teaspoons sea salt, plus extra to style
- 1 teaspoon floor cumin
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- 3 garlic cloves, grated
- 4 cups water or vegetable broth, plus extra as wanted
- 3 cups cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1½ cups contemporary or frozen corn kernels, from about 2 ears contemporary
- Freshly floor black pepper
For serving
- Diced avocado
- Sliced radishes
- Recent cilantro
- Crumbled Cotija cheese
- Lime wedges
Stop your display from going darkish
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Preheat the oven to 375°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
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Use kitchen scissors to slice the stems off the chiles, then reduce the chiles open vertically alongside certainly one of their edges. Unfold them open in order that they lay flat. In a dry skillet over medium warmth, toast the chiles for 1 to 2 minutes per aspect, or till delicate and aromatic. Place one of many tortillas within the pan and toast on both sides till overvalued and aromatic.
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Place the toasted chiles and tortilla in a blender and add the tomatoes. Mix till easy.
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Warmth the avocado oil in a big pot or Dutch oven over medium warmth. Add the onion and salt, and prepare dinner, stirring sometimes, for 8 minutes, or till softened. Add the cumin and oregano and prepare dinner for 30 seconds, or till aromatic. Add the tomato combination and prepare dinner, stirring, for two minutes. Add the garlic, water, and beans and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the corn and simmer for 10 extra minutes.
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Lower the remaining tortillas into skinny strips and place on the ready baking sheets. Drizzle with avocado oil, sprinkle with salt, and toss to coat. Unfold evenly on the baking sheets and bake for 10 to fifteen minutes, or till crispy.
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If the soup is just too thick, stir in a little bit extra water to succeed in your required consistency. Season to style. Ladle the soup into bowls and high with the crispy tortilla strips, reserved diced onion, avocado, radishes, cilantro, and Cotija cheese. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing.