Vegetarian Tortilla Soup with Avocado

One thing I've missed in the years of my being vegetarian is the delicious tortilla soup a local Mexican restaurant makes. I've finally mastered my vegetarian version, that can easily be vegan if the cheese isn't added at the end. My omnivore boyfriend thinks it's divine! Black beans can be added for extra protein.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 259 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups chopped onion
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 5 cups vegetable broth
• ¾ tablespoon chili powder
• cooking spray
• ½ cup diced mushrooms
• 1 avocado - peeled, pitted, and sliced
• 2 cups diced zucchini
• 1 tablespoon peanut oil, or as needed
• ¼ cup chopped red bell peppers
• 1 ½ teaspoons hot pepper sauce
• 3 flour tortillas, cut into strips
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes with juice, chopped
• 2 cups frozen sweet corn

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Step 2

Arrange tortilla strips on a baking sheet and lightly with cooking spray.

Step 3

Bake in the preheated oven until golden and crispy, 8 to 10 minutes.

Step 4

Heat peanut oil in a stockpot over medium-high heat; saute onion, red bell pepper, and garlic until onion is translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes with juice, zucchini, corn, and mushrooms; saute until zucchini is slightly softened, 3 to 4 minutes.

Step 5

Mix vegetable broth, chili powder, hot sauce, salt, and pepper into vegetable mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer soup until vegetables are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir cilantro into soup and remove stockpot from heat.

Step 6

Ladle soup into serving bowls; top with tortilla strips, avocado slices, and Monterey Jack cheese.