Southwestern Turkey Soup (Printable version)

Vibrant Tex-Mex soup with tender turkey, black beans, corn, and aromatic spices.

# Needed ingredients:

→ Protein

01 - 2 cups cooked turkey, shredded or diced

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 cup frozen or canned corn kernels, drained if canned
06 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
07 - 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles
08 - 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
09 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
10 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste

→ Liquids

11 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
12 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Spices & Seasonings

13 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
14 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
15 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
16 - ½ teaspoon dried oregano
17 - ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
18 - ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
19 - Juice of 1 lime
20 - ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Optional Garnishes

21 - Sliced avocado
22 - Crumbled tortilla chips
23 - Shredded cheese
24 - Sour cream

# How to make it:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and red bell pepper; sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and jalapeño; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir for 1 minute to activate spices.
04 - Mix in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
05 - Add diced tomatoes with juices, diced tomatoes with green chiles, black beans, corn, and chicken broth. Bring to a gentle boil.
06 - Reduce heat to a simmer. Stir in turkey. Simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
07 - Stir in lime juice and chopped cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
08 - Serve hot, garnished with additional cilantro and desired toppings such as avocado, tortilla chips, cheese, or sour cream.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • It turns dry leftover turkey into tender morsels that soak up all the smoky tomato broth.
  • The prep is fast enough that you can be eating on the couch in under an hour.
02 -
  • Toasting the spices in the oil before adding liquid prevents the soup from tasting dusty or flat.
  • Adding the lime juice too early can turn the flavor bitter, so always save it for the final moment.
03 -
  • For a thicker consistency, mash a handful of the black beans against the side of the pot while it simmers.
  • If the heat from the jalapeño is too much, remove all the seeds and white ribs before dicing.
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