Happy Valentine’s day and all, but dude, it is farking cold outside. So I make soups to cope with not being able to feel my appendages. Or really this one would be more aptly named a “stoup” because it is thick and hearty- and this recipe is 100% MY creation (so if it offends your sensitive palette, please feel free to keep that information all to yourself…)
Jeff loves the soup at our local favorite Mexican place. Like, he gets a sniffle and wants the soup. He then oohs and aaahs his way through a bowl of this soup and wants it at least once a week. I agree, it is very good, but seriously, it’s just soup- with flavors, which are to me, all easily identifiable. The chicken broth, shredded chicken, onions, rice, tomatoes, chili powder, fresh cilantro, lime juice and avocados. I was convinced I could do this one.
And I totally did.
In favor of using the crock pot whenever possible, this is a crock-pot friendly recipe (YAY!)- the crock pot is essential to achieve that shredded chicken that has been slow cooked all day thang.
Mexican Restaurant Chicken and Rice Stoup
Combine the following in a crock pot and turn to “low” all day long:
1 very large frozen split Chicken Breast, 1 large can crushed tomatoes, 1 small white onion chopped, 1 can chicken broth, 1/2 lime freshly squozen lime juice, 2 TBS-ish (or just a LOT) of chili powder, ground red pepper (to taste) 1 cube chicken buillon, 1 1/2 cups water (Later you will have to fish out the chicken breast, shred the chicken and remove the bones and return all meat to the pot, but it is well worth the effort.)
When you get home:
Make about two servings of rice (I used brown rice), slice the remaining lime, dice an avocado, and coarsely chop a bunch of fresh cilantro. When you are ready to eat, turn off the crock pot and stir in the cilantro. Serve soup over rice, garnish with chunked avocado and some more lime juice.
I served this stoup with some cheese quesadillas made with sharp cheddar and whole wheat tortillas. Mmmmmmm. Tasty.
Alas, I don’t take photos of my cooking, they are never very pretty or interesting, but I do have a favorite picture of mine, a happy man, a monster burrito and coincidentally at the very same restaurant that inspired this recipe!
Stay tuned to see why this photo is particularly special today of all days!
