I love the flavors and aromas of southwest cooking. Makes me salivate just thinking about it! I got real spoiled in Texas on REAL Tex-Mex food, too! Yes, I like it spicy and sometimes, really hot! I needed a quick meal to serve some unexpected guests several years ago and I asked a wonderful friend if she had any ideas... She gave me this delightfully simple recipe that almost anyone can remember (if I can remember it - you can) and I have been making it often since then. It was a hit with my guests, BTW, and they still request it when they come to see me.
Easy and quick southwest chicken soup recipe...
INGREDIENTS...
1. one whole chicken cooked by you and seasoned to taste OR what I like, because it's quicker - one store bought roasted chicken from your grocer's deli. I prefer the lemon-pepper flavor but, the garlic will do very nicely, too.
2. one 16 ounce jar of salsa verde (that's GREEN chili salsa). I prefer Herdez's because it's thick and rich. I also use the "mild."
OPTIONAL, if you didn't buy a roasted chicken
a. a teaspoon of cumin
b. salt to taste
c. a bay leaf (whole - so you can remove it when the soup is done)
DIRECTIONS
1. Pour your salsa verde into a large sauce pan and add two jars of water (from the empty salsa verde jar). Place on the burner on medium heat to begin to warm.
2. Clean all the chicken meat and skin off the carcass and shred into the sauce pan with the salsa verde.
3. If you cooked the chicken yourself, this is where you add your seasonings. If not, go to step four.
4. Stir and let simmer on medium heat for about 20 minutes.
SERVE IT WITH a cool cucumber, grape tomato and sweet onion salad with ranch or blue cheese dressing, and your favorite salsa chips, or warm flour tortillas.
BELIEVE ME!!! It doesn't need vegetables thrown in it! If you want to muck up the flavors, just try to make it like regular chicken soup! It's a perfect recipe just like it is and great protein for energy! It's real quick and real easy to make and it's got great southwest flavor! YUM!!! It's been a cool, gray cloudy day here in the midlands of South Carolina and I am going to enjoy this soup!
It looks lush and despite the late hour you are making my belly grumble! It sounds like it is you that ought to be going on Hells Kitchen, not me, I bet you would give him a run for his money too :)
Sounds absolutely delicious! It's freezing cold here so I will definitely try your recipe over the weekend. Food is difficult to photograph, but the soup also looks delicious - no mean feat.
Thank you Maggie! It is a rainy, gloomy day here today and I wasn't sure what to cook for dinner ! This sounds wonderful, comforting, and best of all, easy :)
@maggiemae There is a book by that title. I don't think this soup came from it though. The salsa verde is the key! You're welcome to the recipe, Maggiemae. Just finished my first bowl and it was great! Thank you for your comments and visit!
@jbar I got a bowl here for ya, Jonie! Thank you for the comment!
@phil_howcroft Uh, Phil... now I just want to be clear here... I sometimes like my food spicy hot, but NOT the weather! LOL! Thank you for your comments!
@deburahiru It is so easy, Deb, especially if you buy a roasted chicken from your grocer! Thank you for your comments!
@rockinrobyn Oh, it is yummy, Robyn! Just finished my first bowl! Thank you for your comments!
Sounds wonderful just like it is and looks fantastic in your photo!! Did you live in TX, Maggie?! I lived in Austin, TX for a few years. Just loved that place and area.
@karenann Dad was stationed in Texas two times. Once in Lubbock at Reese AFB and again, at Kelly Field AFB in San Antonio. We had good AF friends in Austin. It's a big college town! I really loved the rolling hills around San Antonio! Beautiful countryside. Thank you for your comments and visit, as always!
@traciwood LOL! Nothing to char here, Traci! Thank you for your comments and visit!
This is the perfect photo for me today, Maggie. My stomach has had issues for 4 days now and I was thinking about soup, though have to make mine pretty bland as that is all I can handle right now. What a great photo and wonderful idea to include the recipe. Will put this one aside for a later date. Sunny, warm and a bit breezy here today.
@darsphotos So sorry to hear about your stomach trouble, Darlene! Hope it will be better soon. Appreciate your kind comments and visit. Thank you! Hugs!
Oh this looks so GOOD! I'm glad you gave the recipe - I also like it hot & spicy. We buy hot peppers, chilli's, jalpano's, habenar's, etc. at the farmers market in the summer/fall, then we freeze them and put them into just about everything.
Thanks for the recipe of this yummy looking soup. Nothing like hot soup on a cold day (not too many cold days here though) but also for what ails one ;-) Chicken Soup for the Soul!!!
@copperheadglass Wait for a cool rainy day, Meredith! Thank you!
@melissapike Thank you, Melissa! If you do, let me know how you like it!
@cimes1 LOL! When I lived in Florida, if the temps hit 60 degrees, I was freezing to death! Guess my blood has really thickened up since then. Thank you, Carole!
@yonnie Thank you for your comments, Yvonne! You're welcome to the recipe. Enjoy!
@groovygirlrn Thank you, Sheri! My first bowl was great!
@lizzy_lu123 Thank you, Lisa! You're welcome to the recipe!
@justeddie LOL! I don't need my own restaurant, Eddie. Thank you for your lovely comments and visit!
@kerristephens Thank you, Kerri! My first bowl was delicious!
@redrucksack Do try it, Eva! Will warm your insides and delight your pallet if you like southwest flavors. Thank you for your kind comments and visit!
@cocobella LOL! Thank you, Corinne! Enjoy it!
@maggiemae There is a book by that title. I don't think this soup came from it though. The salsa verde is the key! You're welcome to the recipe, Maggiemae. Just finished my first bowl and it was great! Thank you for your comments and visit!
@jbar I got a bowl here for ya, Jonie! Thank you for the comment!
@deburahiru It is so easy, Deb, especially if you buy a roasted chicken from your grocer! Thank you for your comments!
@rockinrobyn Oh, it is yummy, Robyn! Just finished my first bowl! Thank you for your comments!
@emmac If you like spicy, Emma, this will warm you right up!
@karenann Dad was stationed in Texas two times. Once in Lubbock at Reese AFB and again, at Kelly Field AFB in San Antonio. We had good AF friends in Austin. It's a big college town! I really loved the rolling hills around San Antonio! Beautiful countryside. Thank you for your comments and visit, as always!
@traciwood LOL! Nothing to char here, Traci! Thank you for your comments and visit!
@lindag LOL! Thank you, Linda!
@princesicita Thank you, Princess, and you are welcome!
@cindyrez Thank you, Cindy! Hope you enjoy it!
@rmkk Thank you for your comments, Marlene! Hope you enjoy it!
@wannabe Thank you, Catherine! Enjoy! Deb, said she made it last night and liked it!
@myhrhelper LOL! Another spicy gal! Thank you, Kathy! Enjoy and let me know how you like it when you make it!
@myautofocuslife LOL! Thank you, Livia! I appreciate your great comments very much!
@steeler Thank you so much, Howard!
@benthomas77 The spicy would help your sinuses, Ben! Thank you for your comments and visit!
@zela Thank you, Alena! Enjoy and let me know how you like it!
@sangwann Aww! Thank you so much, Dione! Appreciate your wonderful comments and visit
@aleksandra Thank you, Aleksandra! It's so easy to make. Appreciate your comments and visit!
@purdey Thank you so much, Sharon! Always appreciate your great comments and visit!
@litljen If you like southwest flavors, it is marvelous soup, Jennifer. Thank you so much for your comments and visit!
@janturnbull LOL! Got a bowl just for you, Janet! Thank you!
Nice warming shot for a friday night! Good one.
@pointnshoot28 Thank you, Donna! Enjoy and let me know how you like it! LOL! No cookbook writing for me.
@simon0128 Thank you, Simon!
@marybz Thank you so much, Mary!
@copperheadglass Wait for a cool rainy day, Meredith! Thank you!
@melissapike Thank you, Melissa! If you do, let me know how you like it!
@cimes1 LOL! When I lived in Florida, if the temps hit 60 degrees, I was freezing to death! Guess my blood has really thickened up since then. Thank you, Carole!
@netkonnexion Thank you very much! Appreciate your comments!
@twinsplusone I buy the "mild" salsa verde, Sharon. But, you can make it hotter! Thank you for the comments!
@paulineb Thank you, Pauline! Appreciate that!
@peterdegraaff Enjoy, Peter! It's so easy and so good! Let me know how you like it!
@lianasaarepera Thank you, Liana!
@beteljooz Thank you, George!
@simonesta LOL! Thank you for you wonderful comments, Simonetta!