What's on your menu for Cinco de Mayo? Here's a great recipe with a twist: My Asian-Inspired Chicken Tortilla Soup. I've been making this soup for decades! It's hearty, healthy and so easy! "¡Mas, por favor!"
This Asian-Inspired Chicken Tortilla Soup literally takes about 30 minutes from start to table! Hints of ginger, soy sauce, and sambal chili paste give this soup that Asia-meets-Mexico flavoring. Loaded with fresh veggies, simple chicken stock, and diced tomatoes, there is nothing in here that is not good for you!
Ingredients you'll need for this soup recipe
- garlic cloves
- onions
- yellow and red bell peppers
- jalapeño peppers
- carrots and celery
- fresh ginger
- ground cumin
- chicken broth
- reduced-sodium soy sauce
- rice vinegar
- diced tomatoes
- sambal oelek
- fresh lime
- cooked chicken
- fresh cilantro
I used the freshest veggies for this healthy, Asian-Inspired Chicken Tortilla Soup soup that stay firm-tender in every bite! This soup is a flavor bomb! It's loaded with goodness and is so low-cal!
How to make this Asian-Fusion soup recipe
- Heat the oil in a dutch oven or soup pot on medium-high heat. Add in the garlic and onion. Stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- Add in the bell peppers, jalapeño peppers, carrots, celery, and ginger. Sauté for 5 minutes. Stir in the cumin and white pepper to combine.
- Add in the chicken broth, light soy sauce, rice vinegar, tomatoes, sambal oelek, and lime juice. Stir, bring to a boil, lower to simmer and slightly cover for 15 minutes. Taste for seasoning.
- Add in the cooked chicken pieces and cilantro. Ladle into soup bowls and garnish with sliced avocado, cilantro, and lime wedges.
Top the soup with fresh slices of avocado and fresh cilantro. Make it a tortilla soup night! Done in 30 minutes or less!
TIPS & TRICKS
- It's so easy to use a store-bought rotisserie chicken for this recipe. However, use up your chicken breasts if you'd rather make it yourself!
- To keep this soup vegan, use vegetable broth, and eliminate the chicken. Still so hearty and delicious!
- You can also garnish this tortilla soup with shredded cheese and sour cream. Yum!
- This soup freezes well for later! You can freeze this for up to 3 months.
Want more recipes like this?
If you like this Asian-Inspired Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe, you’re going to want these soup recipes too:
- Classic Hot and Sour Soup
- Miso Butternut Squash Soup
- Ginger and Turmeric Cauliflower Soup
- Wild Rice Mushroom Soup
- Easy Thai Clear Soup with Chicken and Tofu
Update Notes: This post was originally published on May 14, 2018, but was republished with slight text changes and additions, like step by step instructions and tips in May 2020.
PrintAsian-Inspired Chicken Tortilla Soup
This Asian-Inspired Chicken Tortilla Soup literally takes about 30 minutes from start to table! Hints of ginger, soy and sambal chili paste give this soup that Asia-meets-Mexico flavoring. Loaded with fresh veggies, simple chicken stock, and diced tomatoes, there is nothing in here that is not good for you!
- Total Time: 30 mins
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, chopped
- ½ yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- ½ red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)
- 1 tablespoon sambal oelek
- Juice from ½ fresh lime
- 2 cups cooked chicken pieces (shredded or cubed)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
For garnish:
- 1 large avocado, sliced
- Fresh chopped cilantro
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a dutch oven or soup pot on medium-high heat. Add in the garlic and onion. Stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add in the bell peppers, jalapeño peppers, carrots, celery, and ginger. Sauté for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the cumin and white pepper to combine. Add in the chicken broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, tomatoes, sambal oelek, and lime juice. Stir, bring to a boil, lower to simmer and slightly cover for 15 minutes. Taste for seasoning.
- Add in the chicken pieces and cilantro. Ladle into soup bowls and garnish with sliced avocado, cilantro, and lime wedges.
Notes
- It's so easy to use a store-bought rotisserie chicken for this recipe. However, use up your chicken breasts if you'd rather make it yourself!
- To keep this soup vegan, use vegetable broth, and eliminate the chicken. Still so hearty and delicious!
- You can also garnish this tortilla soup with shredded cheese and sour cream. Yum!
- This soup freezes well for later! You can freeze this for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
- Diet: Low Calorie
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 12.1 g
- Sodium: 1593.9 mg
- Fat: 15.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 24.5 g
- Protein: 31.4 g
- Cholesterol: 82.7 mg
Ramona says
I love the flavours and the tortilla twist to this soup - genius idea! Truly unique! Will need to try this very soon. Recipe pinned.
Asian Caucasian says
Thanks, Ramona! I hope you enjoy the Asian twist on this tortilla soup. Gives it just a little something special.
April says
This sounds like an amazing recipe. I love to make soup all year round. Yup, even when it's 100 degrees outside. This recipe is pretty enough for summer though. I mean look at how colorful it is. I'm a sucker for colorful foods! I wish I could reach out and grab it!
Asian Caucasian says
Thank you, April! I'm a soup fanatic too! I do love some cold soups in the summer also. But, I eat tortilla soup year-round. So delish!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt says
THis sounds amazing! I love the twist of Asian and Mexican flavors. Such a creative and unique recipe that's so cozy.
Asian Caucasian says
It's a very comforting tortilla soup! The slight Asian flavoring give it that something special. So easy to make too!
Emily says
I love chicken tortilla soup and love the Asian twist on the classic! Such delicious flavors!
Asian Caucasian says
Chicken tortilla soup is one of my faves, so I just had to put my Asian spin on it! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Alena says
I love that you put an Asian spin on this chicken tortilla soup! That’s so unique and the flavors sound incredible.
Asian Caucasian says
It's a very tasty version of tortilla soup, that is comforting and zingy! I hope you enjoy the recipe, Alena!
Gail Montero says
What a hearty and comforting soup for chilly days! Love the Asian spin you added here and the fresh zing from the ginger.
Asian Caucasian says
Thank you, Gail! This soup has a nice little kick and is very comforting. It's still been a bit chilly here so it really hits the spot!
Sondra Barker says
Wow this soup looks amazing! I love that you even shared a wine pairing for it!
Asian Caucasian says
Thank you, Sondra! I always like to do a wine pairing with my recipes. I'm a big wine drinker and believe in drinking clean-crafted wines. Enjoy!
Amy Liu Dong says
Wow, this soup looks really good and tasty and since I am not feeling well today I will ask my mom to make this soup for me, thank you for sharing!
Asian Caucasian says
I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well, but hope that this tortilla soup will help! It's very comforting and healing!
Asian Caucasian says
Aw, I hope you will feel better soon, Amy! This soup is very comforting and healing so eating several helpings is a good thing!
Stine Mari says
I love how you combine Mexican with Asian in this tortilla soup. I love ginger and sambal oelek!
Asian Caucasian says
If you love ginger and sambal, you're going to want to taste this tortilla soup! It's so yummy, and healthy too!
Jacqui DeBono says
You had me at lime and ginger! One of my favourite taste combinations! This is great for light but filling lunch.
Asian Caucasian says
It's even better the next day! So yummy!
Marta says
I know I'm going to love this! I don't know why I've never thought to do an Asian variation of this soup!
Asian Caucasian says
Just a little tweak gives this soup a ton of flavor. Enjoy!
Gabriella Pizzo says
Adoro la cucina Asiatica, le zuppe poi le mangerei sempre!! Ottima proposta grazie mille per la ricetta.
Ciao Gabriella
Asian Caucasian says
Your Italian sounds beautiful, Gabriella! I think you said that you like the recipe!😜
Sherry Boland says
Love this fusion! I’ll definitely be making this tortilla soup! So many great recipes for Cinco de Mayo!
Asian Caucasian says
I think you're going to love this tortilla soup, Sherry! It's full of great fusion flavors and so easy to make!
Megan (MegUnprocessed) says
So much flavor in this soup! I love all the veggies in there!
Asian Caucasian says
Tortilla soup is one of my faves because it's so easy to make and great for all seasons. The added Asian flavorings are a bonus!