Tortilla Lime Soup (Vegan)
This Mexican-Central American soup gets zest from fresh lime juice and fresh cilantro. I make this with refried beans or rice and beans, since both use a common onion celery base, and the soup uses a cup of refried beans. I avoid packaged stock, which usually has the wrong base flavors and spices. Instead, I use my own vegetable base and add ground whole spices.
This Mexican-Central American soup gets zest from fresh lime juice and fresh cilantro. I make this with refried beans or rice and beans, since both use a common onion celery base, and the soup uses a cup of refried beans. I avoid packaged stock, which usually has the wrong base flavors and spices. Instead, I use my own vegetable base and add ground whole spices.
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 sticks celery chopped
- 2-3 cloves garlic crushed and chopped
- 2 plum tomatoes chopped
- 1 cup fresh cilantro chopped
- 2 cups refried beans
- 1/2 tsp cumin ground
- 3-4 leaves bay leaves ground
- 1/4 tsp black pepper ground
- 1-2 juice limes squeezed
- 2 baked tortillas or tostadas crumbled
- Carbohydrate 22.7781679166977 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 1.53028020833773 g
- Fiber 7.28701035660885 g
- Protein 7.08876937501801 g
- Saturated Fat 0.477530520833452 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (341g)
- Sodium 527.303333336728 mg
- Sugar 15.4911575600888 g
- Trans Fat 0.127124333334948 g
- Calories 128 calories
Step-by-step
- In pan, brown onion, 5 min. Add celery, tomato, garlic and half the fresh cilantro and saute, 5 min. This makes a fresh and aromatic vegetable base.
- Grind whole spices together and save. Add refried beans, ground spice mix and water, bring to boil, and reduce heat to simmer, 20 min.
- To finish, mix in lime juice, other half of fresh cilantro, broken tortilla and serve.
How Do You Store and Reheat This Soup Without Losing Texture
Bean-based soups thicken significantly when chilled because starches continue to absorb liquid. Store this mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat portions on the stovetop over medium-low heat rather than blasting them in a microwave. Stir in two tablespoons of water per serving during reheating to restore the original broth consistency.
Can You Freeze This Preparation Successfully
Freezing works well for the vegetable and bean base, but structural elements demand attention. Omit the fresh cilantro and baked tortilla crumbles before freezing. These items turn mushy during thawing. Freeze the base for up to two months, then add fresh herbs and crisp tortillas after thawing and simmering the liquid.
Judging Consistency Without a Thermometer
Soups thickened with refried beans do not require internal temperature checks for doneness. Instead, observe physical behavior in the pan. Simmer the mixture for twenty minutes until the liquid transitions from watery to uniformly opaque. A wooden spoon drawn across the bottom of the pan should leave a clear trail that slowly fills back in.
