Chicken Lavash Soup Recipe (Tortilla Lime Soup)

As a child, Maman would always tell us kids not waste food; it’s ”tội chết” (”dreadfully sinful” in Vietnamese). Now that I’m an adult, I intend to follow in her footsteps and teach the same values to our future children. Whenever there are left-overs, I try to come up with creative ways to use them. Today, I had left-over chicken broth and roasted chicken, so I combined them to make a hearty chicken soup. I had whole wheat lavash on hand, so I decided to slice it into strips and use it as I would when making tortilla soup. The lavash also made a good thickening agent in the soup.

To the large pot of soup, I added left-over shredded roasted chicken, tomatoes, tomato paste for a little tartness, jalapeños for a little heat, lime juice, cumin, avocado and some edamame beans for texture. The lavash soup is a hearty, tasty dish that makes a complete meal that’s a hit even with the kids. Well, at least the non-vegetarian kids in my house!

1. Info for Chicken Lavash Soup Recipe (Tortilla Lime Soup)

• Cook Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 50 mins
• Servings: 6
• Calories: 929

2. Ingredients for Chicken Lavash Soup Recipe (Tortilla Lime Soup)

• 2 quarts chicken stock
• 4 tablespoons canola oil
• ½ white onion, finely diced
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 3 sheets whole grain lavash bread
• 1-½ cups shredded roasted chicken
• ¼ cup steamed edamame beans, shelled
• juice of two limes , freshly squeezed
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced
• ½ teaspoon red chili powder
• 1 (7-ounce) package fresh enoki mushrooms, separated
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can combined diced tomatoes and jalapeños
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch (optional)
• 2 avocados, diced
• 2 tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground

3. Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Stack the sheets of lavash. Cut into ¼-inch strips. Place on a greased baking sheet, drizzle about 2 tablespoons of oil and bake for 10 minutes until crispy. Reserve a few strips for garnish.
3. In a blender, place the diced tomatoes and jalapeños. Add a little vegetable broth for a smooth flow. Set aside.
4. In a pot, heat 1 tablespoon of canola oil. Add the onions and cumin. Cook for a few minutes until translucent. Add the blended tomatoes and chiles, tomato paste and the chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then let simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Drizzle the avocados with 2 tablespoons of lime juice to prevent oxidation. Set aside.
6. In a frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over high heat.  Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the enoki mushrooms, edamame beans and red chili powder. Cook for an additional minute. Transfer the mushrooms and vegetables to the hot broth. Finish with the shredded chicken and the remaining lime juice. Season with salt and pepper. Note: This step is optional; I like to thicken the broth a bit. In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch with ¼ to ½ cup of water. Bring the soup to a boil, then add the cornstarch mixture, stirring constantly. Add the lavash strips. Turn off the heat. Stir well.
7. Ladle the soup into 6 warmed bowls. Add a little bit of avocado into the center of each bowl. Sprinkle the reserved lavash strips over the top of each bowl and garnish with cilantro.
8. Serve immediately.
9. Bon appétit!