Simple Salsa Soup

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 6 ounces cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes may be substituted (approximately 1 cup)
• 1 cup red onion, chopped into large pieces (about 1/4 of a large red onion)
• 3 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 teaspoon cumin, preferably ground fresh
• 1 tablespoon lime juice, fresh
• 1/2 jalapeno, seeded with ribs removed and chopped large
• 3 1/2 cups chicken broth, preferably low-sodium (two 14 ounce cans)
• 1 teaspoon lime juice, fresh
• 1 tablespoon cumin, fresh ground
• 1 1/2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, purchased in a ball not grated (note! do not add cheese to soup pot)
• cilantro, chopped medium to medium fine
• jalapeno, chopped fine (use other half of jalapeno)
• avocado, cubed (1 or 2 avocados depending on need)
• sour cream

Recipe

• 1 place broth into your favorite soup pot. heat broth on medium.
• 2 meanwhile, in a food processor (if you don't have one, use a blender), chop the onion and garlic, using 1 second pulses until well chopped, but not mushy, about 8 pulses.
• 3 add tomatoes, jalapeños, cumin, 1 tablespoon lime juice and pulse until mixture is very fine, almost pureed.
• 4 you should have just about 1 cup of salsa.
• 5 turn up heat under soup.
• 6 add shredded chicken to broth.
• 7 when soup just starts to simmer add salsa mixture, 1 tsp lime juice, and 1 tablespoon cumin.
• 8 quickly stir and remove from heat. (you just want to incorporate the salsa, not cook it).
• 9 adjust seasonings to taste.
• 10 to serve:.
• 11 cut mozzarella into to half inch thick round slices and place slices in bottom of soup bowls.
• 12 ladle the simmering broth into bowls over the cheese.
• 13 let the soup sit for about 2 minutes, to allow the heat of the soup to soften the mozzarella.
• 14 serve with garnishes on the side.
• 15 (if you choose to add the garnishes before serving, add them right before serving so as not to cook the cilantro or avocado. i do not recommend adding the sour cream ahead of time).
• 16 make sure to tell your guests that there is wonderful melted cheese on the bottom of the bowl!
• 17 enjoy!