Special Tortilla Soup | Cooking Professionally

Ingredients

• ***For the soup:***
• 1 pound chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 poblano pepper, chopped
• 4-6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (15-ounce) can fire-roasted tomatoes, not drained
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15-ounce) can sweet corn, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15-ounce) can mild enchilada sauce
• 1 (15-ounce) can mild diced green chilies
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons granulated chicken bouillon, base or crushed cubes
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth, divided
• 4 ounces block cream cheese, cubed and softened
• 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 3 tablespoons cilantro, minced
• ***For the homemade tortilla strips:***
• 8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
• 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil