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Joanna Gaines's Creamy Chicken Poblano Soup

Creamy Chicken Poblano Soup

byJoanna Gaines
Total 1 hour and 5 minutes
Active 50 mins
Makes 6 to 8 servings
I’ve heard it said that food with a story tastes different. For Chip and me, this soup always takes us back to one of our first dates. We went to a restaurant in Dallas and both ordered the chicken poblano soup—not because it was familiar to either of us, but because we had heard that it was the dish the restaurant was known for. Honestly, it was the best soup either of us had ever had. That restaurant and soup became a favorite go-to, and even though the restaurant has since closed, Chip and I still talk about those early days and that chicken poblano soup. This recipe is a nod to the memories of our first dates.
TIP: In this episode, Jo omitted the carrots from the recipe.
Special Equipment
an immersion blender
Special Equipment
an immersion blender
Ingredients
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 2 cups small-diced yellow onion (about 1 large)
  • 4 celery stalks, cut into medium dice
  • 3 carrots, cut into medium dice (see Cook’s Note)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 medium poblano peppers, seeded and cut into medium dice
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 8 cups (2 quarts) chicken broth
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 3 cups shredded cooked chicken breast (home-roasted or rotisserie chicken)
  • 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
  • Tortilla strips and sliced radishes, for garnish
Directions
  1. In a large soup pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and poblanos and sauté, stirring often, until tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Add the salt, pepper, cumin, and thyme and sauté until caramelized and fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes longer.
  2. Add the broth and cream, bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often, for 15 to 20 minutes to meld the flavors.
  3. Use an immersion blender to carefully blend the soup until smooth. (Alternatively, let cool slightly and, working in batches as necessary, process in a stand blender until smooth, filling the blender no more than half-full and removing the lid slowly after blending. Pour the soup back into the pot.)
  4. Add the chicken and simmer for 15 to 30 minutes to meld the flavors to your liking.
  5. Serve warm, garnished with tortilla strips, sliced radishes, and cilantro.
  6. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.