Ancho Chili Soup

4 Servings

40 minutes

Made This Recipe? Write a Review.
Thank you for submitting your review! A member of our team is confirming the review meets our site's Community Guidelines. It will be posted on the site shortly.

This simple, meat-free spin on tortilla soup is inspired by a recipe from the late Patricia Quintana, chef, author and authority on Mexican cooking. Anchos chilies—dried ripe poblanos with a mild heat balanced by notes of tobacco, cocoa and dried fruit—drive the rich flavor and deep color of the soup. The agave nicely rounds out the earthiness with a touch of sweetness, so don’t omit it. If you don’t have any on hand, use 1 teaspoon white sugar instead. We like to top each serving with diced avocado and crumbled queso fresco.

4

Servings

Tip

Don't use the chili soaking water in the soup. It may give the finished dish an unwelcome bitterness.

40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4

    medium ancho chilies (about 2 ounces), stemmed, seeded and torn into pieces

  • 1

    cup boiling water

Directions

Reviews
Sarah S.
May 23, 2022
Simple and pretty easy
This is a good tortilla soup base.
Paul H.

Toasting the ancho chilies in my dutch oven stains it (requiring an overnight soak with baking soda to remove) so instead I put them on a parchment covered sheet pan and toast at 300F over for 8 minutes.

Stacey T.

This was good. But not great. I thought the recipe added too much water. I added more onions, garlic and tomatoes which gave more depth to the broth. I will make it again, but maybe pour it over charred veggies.