How To Make Houston’s Tortilla Soup Recipe
Houston’s is an upscale restaurant chain located in Atlanta, Georgia. The eatery serves a diverse menu fused with Asian, Southwestern American, and Mexican flavors. The sushi is made on-site from scratch. Fresh, top-quality ingredients are used for all their dishes. Including one of their most popular, the chicken tortilla soup. If you’re ever fortunate enough to visit Houston’s, you’ll definitely see it on more than a few tables. Below is a recipe that comes super close and you can make it right in the comfort of your own kitchen.
How To Make Houston’s Tortilla Soup Recipe At Home
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 1 cup of diced onions
- 1 cup of diced carrots
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 56 ounces of chicken broth
- 1 can or 15 ounces of diced tomatoes
- 1 can or 15 ounces of Ro-Tel tomatoes
- 1 packet of taco seasoning
- 3/4 of a pound cooked chicken breast
- 10 soft flour tortillas
- 8-10 ounces of Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 1 cup of milk
- several strips of fried tortilla strips
Directions
1. In a large soup pot, place olive oil and butter. Mix and melt. Add the chopped celery, onions, carrots, and garlic. Over a medium low heat, sauté for about 10 to 15 minutes or until aromatic. Add some salt and pepper to taste.
2. Add in the chicken broth, milk, taco seasoning, rip the soft flour tortillas into small pieces and drop into the pot. Turn the heat to high and boil for 5 minutes.
3. Turn the heat to low and use a hand mixer to blend the vegetables and tortillas, until the broth becomes like a bisque.
4. Turn the temperature up to medium and add in the tomatoes with the juices and the chicken. Cook for 5 minutes.
5. Turn off the heat and allow the soup to cool for a bit. Add about half the shredded cheese, stirring constantly. Make sure to let the soup cool before putting in the cheese. If it’s too hot, the soup will separate and make a mess.
6. Ladle the soup into bowls and top it off with the rest of the cheese and the fried tortillas.
Nutritional Information
- Calories: 130
- Carbohydrates: 18 grams
- Protein: 9 grams
- Fat: 3 grams
- Fiber: 4 grams
- Sugar: 2 grams
- Sodium: 480 milligrams
- Calcium: 40 milligrams
- Iron: 1 milligram
What Are Some Toppings For Tortilla Soup?
This tortilla soup is fabulous on its own . But it never hurts to experiment. Especially if you have guests. Try putting little bowls of these toppings on the table for everyone to sample.
- lime wedges
- green onions
- jalapeno’s
- corn
- fredh tomato
- black olives
- sour cream
- diced avocado
- hot sauce
- cilantro
What Dishes Go Well With Tortilla Soup?
The Houston’s Tortilla soup recipe is hearty enough to be a meal in itself. But if you’re looking for something extra, here are some great ideas for side dishes.
1. Tacos
Whether it’s flour or corn, chicken, beef, or fish, tacos go great with tortilla soup.
2. Quesadillas
A simple cheese quesadilla with some tomatoes is a great addition to the soup.
3. Chips and Guacamole
Make your own or buy them. Either way, you can’t go wrong.
4. Mexican Rice
Cook some rice and add in some cilantro, chili powder, and cumin.
5. Black Beans
Simmer up some beans and add garlic, cilantro, and a bit of salt and pepper for a great side dish.
6. Corn Bread
Great for dipping.
7. Salad
Salad is always a great choice because the possibilities are endless. Jicama, chipotle, pineapple with mango, Mexican quinoa, or just a simple garden salad.
8. Avocado Fries
Slice up a ripe avocado and coat with a light batter. Put them in the air fryer for a healthy side.
9. Mango Glazed Shrimp Kebabs
A simple yet impressive dish to pair with your soup if you’re entertaining.
10. Steak Fajita Skewers
Tasty and fun.
What’s The Difference Between Tortillas?
Flour
The flour tortillas are soft and delicious. But they are the least healthy of the tortilla family. Made with refined white flour, they have a lot of sodium and additives. They average around 100 calories.
Corn
Corn tortillas have a chewy but firm texture. They are more nutritious than their counterparts. They have less sodium and fat than flour tortillas. Corn tortillas have about 50 calories per serving.
Whole Wheat
Pretty similar time flour. Whole wheat has a similar texture but contains the same amount of sodium and almost the same amount of calories (80). Although they do have a bit more fiber.
Are There Any Other Tasty Soups From Mexico?
Tortilla soup is but one of many mouthwatering soups that hail from Mexico. Soups and stews are quite popular in many regions. Cooks infuse local herbs, spices, fish, meat, and vegetables to make delightful one-pot meals. Some soups are so special they are reserved for holiday gatherings. While others are so flavorful and yummy, they take all day to get just right.
1. Chicken Tinga
This delightfully spicy soup is made with chorizo (smoked sausage) and chipotle peppers as its main ingredients. It takes only 10 minutes to prepare and is great as a main course.
2. Pozole
This is a thin soup that takes much of its flavor from the pork that is cooked for 6 hours in the broth.
3. Menudo
Menudo is one of the most popular soups in Mexico. So popular, in fact, that different regions argue over where the soup’s origins lay. The main ingredients are beef tripe and corn. Get up early because it takes 8 to 10 hours to cook. Due to the spices that are used, people make it to cure headaches.
4. Caldo de Res
At its base, it is a beef and vegetable soup. Which veggies and spices are added is totally up to you. People love it because they can use seasonal produce or anything they have in their fridge.
5. Caldo de Siete Mares
A seafood soup that is served in many coastal areas where seafood is plentiful and inexpensive. The broth is light and lime and chile are added for flavor.
6. Mole de Olla
This soup is believed to regulate body temperature. So people eat it extremely hot on scorching days to cool down. It’s a tasty combo of vegetables, beef, and spices.
7. Birra
Made with goat meat, this soup is quite spicy with adobo, cumin, garlic, and chile.
