This Whole30 and paleo chicken tortilla soup comes with added kale for extra nutrients. This Mexican favourite doesn’t have any tortilla chips but the pumpkin seeds provide extra crunch. This healthy recipes only takes 25 minutes and can be served for dinner or lunch. I’d love to know if you make it, so let me know in the comments and don’t forget to rate this recipe.
WHAT IS A TORTILLA SOUP?
Tortilla soup is a classic Mexican dish made with a tangy, savoury tomato and garlic broth and crispy tortilla chips or strips over the top. Often, the soup will also have chicken, corn or beans and a range of garnishes such as avocado, chopped onions, cheese, and extra coriander and lime.
Although nobody is quite sure of its origins, this hearty and zesty soup has become a real darling of Mexican fusion cuisine. The purists will have to forgive me but as this is a paleo-friendly version, the tortillas no están incluidos! Also, I’ve gone on my own adventure with the traditional recipe so this is another Irey’s special. Es muy delicioso (it’s very tasty) and I hope you like it.
MY CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP NUTRITION
As with most of my recipes, I always try to make them as nutritious as possible. This recipe uses lots of nutrient-dense ingredients and superfoods like kale, pumpkin seeds and tomatoes. If you look at the nutritional breakdown below, this soup is high in many essential vitamins and minerals. It’s high in protein and low-to-moderate in carbohydrates, with a hefty dose of dietary fibre that will keep you nicely satiated.
This chicken tortilla soup is gluten-free, paleo, Whole30 and great for anyone looking for a quick nutrition boost.
HOW TO MAKE PALEO CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP
There are many versions of tortilla soup and this is my own take on it. I wanted to create a recipe that’s really quick and easy to make, perfect for a mid-week dinner or lunch, and this one should only take you 25 minutes.
I wanted to use pre-cooked chicken to speed up the prep time but feel free to use fresh, raw chicken instead. Simply pan fry it for 6-8 minutes before dicing and adding to the soup. The rest of the ingredients are simple and easy to pick up from any supermarket.
To make it, everything is cooked together in one pot and you can prepare all your garnishes in the meantime. Beware, this soup is a little spicy but you can modify the heat by adding fewer jalapeños.
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Super quick and easy, this Whole30 and paleo-friendly chicken tortilla soup comes with added kale for extra nutrients and crunchy pumpkin seeds. There are no tortilla crisps, but the soup certainly doesn't lack in flavor or texture. Takes 25 minutes!
Heat a medium saucepan with olive oil and add the diced onion. Cook for a minute or two and add the red peppers. Stir and cook for another minute while chopping other ingredients.
Add the jalapeños, garlic, oregano, coriander seed and cumin powder. Stir and cook for about 30 seconds to release the aromas.
Now add the chicken, kale, diced tomatoes, chicken stock, lime zest and juice and stir. Taste for salt. I added about 2/3 of a teaspoon of sea salt but you may need less depending on how much salt is in your chicken stock.
Bring everything to a boil and cook on high heat for 5 minutes. Then, let it sit for 2-3 minutes off the heat while you prepare the garnishes.
Place pumpkin seeds in a small frying pan and cook on medium heat for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Keep your eyes on them so they don't get burnt. We simply want to toast them for extra crunch and nuttiness.
Serve soup in bowls, topped with fresh coriander, green onions, toasted pumpkin seeds and sliced avocado. If you want, you can add corn chips or a paleo/Whole30 alternative like baked sweet potato chips.
Calories: 624kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 22g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 2689mg | Potassium: 1929mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 8705IU | Vitamin C: 170mg | Calcium: 315mg | Iron: 8mg
SAVE THIS CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP TO PINTEREST
