Chile Verde Soup

My boyfriend was a Chef at a restaurant that had this amazing chile verde soup.  It tasted calming, yet spicy enough to warm your body and make your nose drip. They would have variations of it.  Sometimes it would be with chile rojo with hominy and pulled chicken. Other times it would have more cilantro. Regardless, it is one of my favorite soups. Here is the recipe with my own take on it (actually, it is his take).

Ingredients:

1. Chicken Broth: 3-4 Cans
2. 1/2 Cup Cilantro or 1/2 bunch of Cilantro
3. Garlic – 3 Cloves
4. Serrano or Jalepeno Chile depending on your spice tolerance
5. 1/2 Large Yellow Onion or 1 Small Yellow Onion
6. 1/2-1 Green or Red Bell Pepper
7. +/- 1 Cup of Carrots – I usually use more because I love the soft carrot texture and taste.
8. +/- 1 Cup of Broccoli florets; I’ll chop the stem into pieces and us it in the soup as well.
9. Meat of Choice: Ground turkey or beef are what we usually use.

Directions:

1. Chop up onions, garlic, and bell pepper. Slice or Finely Chop 1/4-1/2 of the Serrano Chile. Saute in olive oil over medium heat for about 5 Minutes. There are two options from here:

– Option 1: Blend with chicken broth and cilantro to make it a finer  base. Make sure to blend in multiple parts, so the soup will not over flow. Furthermore, make sure to leave the lid off so the steam can come out or else it could get very messy.  If you go with this option, the turkey or beef has to be cooked separately. Remember to season with salt and pepper.

– Option 2: Add the ground turkey and make it a chunkier soup.

Either way will be delicious.

After the broth and turkey have been combined, add the carrots and broccoli florets. Bring the soup to a boil then to a simmer. Let it cook for another 25 Minutes before serving.

Pair this soup with quesadilla, fresh corn tortilla or chips.

Estimated Time: 30 Minutes

Estimated Cost Breakdown:

1. Chicken Broth at $1.00/can – $4.00
2. Broccoli Crown $0.80
3. 1-2 large carrot sticks $0.50
4. Cilantro $0.50 a Bunch – $0.25 for half
5. Bell Pepper $1.00 Each
6. Serrano or Jalepeno Chile $0.10
7. 1 lb Ground Turkey* or Beef $3.00         *Ground Turkey is more expensive, but grocery stores will have it for less than $2.00 if it is a quick sale.

Total Estimated Cost: $10.00 – 4 Servings (Bowl) is $2.50/Serving