Tortilla Soup with Lime Crema

While tortilla soup is usually made with cooked chicken, spicy sausage gives it a fiery kick. The garnishes are the key to making this soup healthier: Radishes and cabbage add fiber and vitamins, while the tortilla strips add complex carbohydrates and a satisfying crunch.

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Peter Chou

Nutritional Bonus: The addition of cabbage makes this soup an excellent source of vitamin K, which USDA researchers believe may activate proteins in the body that build and maintain healthy bones.

Servings
6

Ingredients

  • 3 no-salt-added corn tortillas
  • 1 2/3 tbsp olive or safflower oil, divided
  • 1 small white onion, chopped
  • 6 oz fresh spicy poultry sausage, such as chicken or turkey habanero
  • 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano leaves
  • 1 tbsp ground dried chile, such as ancho
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 14-oz can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
  • 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 6 radishes, sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups cabbage, shredded
  • LIME CREMA
  • 1/2 cup plain, low-fat yogurt
  • 1/2 lime
  • 2 tbsp cilantro leaves, chopped

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F. To make tortilla strips, brush tortillas on 1 side with 2 tsp oil, then stack tortillas and cut into very thin strips, about 2 inches long (if using leftover tortillas, stack those pieces and cut into thin strips, then toss with oil). Spread tortilla strips on a baking sheet and bake until crispy, 12 to 15 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan or small soup pot, saute onion in 1 tbsp oil over medium-high until it starts to soften. Slit sausage casings and crumble meat into pan, and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 3 minutes. Stir in oregano, chile and cumin; then add tomatoes and their liquid, broth and 3 cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Turn off heat and let soup stand while you prepare crema.
  3. To make lime crema, put yogurt in a small bowl and squeeze in lime juice; then stir in cilantro.
  4. Ladle soup into 6 bowls and drizzle each with some lime crema. Serve tortilla strips, radishes and cabbage alongside to add to each bowlful, as desired.

Nutrition Information

  • Serving Size 1 1/2 cup tortilla soup and 2 tsp lime crema
  • Calories 190
  • Carbohydrate Content 17 g
  • Cholesterol Content 20 mg
  • Fat Content 9 g
  • Fiber Content 3 g
  • Protein Content 11 g
  • Saturated Fat Content 2.5 g
  • Sodium Content 105 mg
  • Sugar Content 4 g
  • Monounsaturated Fat Content 0 g
  • Polyunsaturated Fat Content 0 g

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