Tortilla Soup

Do you enjoy tortilla soup? It’s one of my all-time favorites! Tortilla soup is fresh and flavorful, earthy and a little spicy. Topped with a big handful…

The post Tortilla Soup appeared first on Cookie and Kate.

tortilla soup recipe

Do you enjoy tortilla soup? It’s one of my all-time favorites! Tortilla soup is fresh and flavorful, earthy and a little spicy. Topped with a big handful of crispy tortilla strips, it’s a light but satisfying meal for lunch or dinner. As a bonus, it tastes even better the next day.

Tex-Mex tortilla soups most often include shredded chicken, but it’s not unusual to find vegetarian tortilla soups in Mexico. I can’t call this recipe fully authentic, though. It’s a delicious variation on classic tortilla soup (Sopa Azteca) that you can make at home any time you get the craving.

In Mexico, you’ll find tons of regional variations and personal preferences for tortilla soup. For this recipe, I added black beans for some heft, as well as a red bell pepper because I love the flavor and texture it provides. I tried to keep the remaining ingredients in line with what you might find in Mexico, but to be honest, I have more personal experience with the Tex-Mex variations I’ve sampled over the years.

tortilla soup ingredients

This recipe is a fully reworked version of an old tortilla soup recipe on the blog. Perhaps you’ve made that one and enjoyed it, but I tried it again recently and just knew I could build in more flavor along the way. If you want a copy of the original, I’ve saved a PDF of the recipe right here.

This soup is closer to the spin on tortilla soup in my cookbook, Love Real Food, which features an irresistible sweet-and-spicy interplay between sweet potatoes and jalapeño. Give that one a try, too!

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Easy Vegan Mac and Cheese

Who misses Kraft-style shells and cheese? I do, I do. After a long shift at my high school job, I would come home famished and down a whole box of Kraft Mac ‘n’ Cheese. Since ditching dairy, I’ve missed that classic shell pasta enveloped in creamy, che…

Easy Vegan Mac and Cheese

Who misses Kraft-style shells and cheese? I do, I do. After a long shift at my high school job, I would come home famished and down a whole box of Kraft Mac ‘n’ Cheese. Since ditching dairy, I’ve missed that classic shell pasta enveloped in creamy, cheddar cheese sauce. But after cracking the code on our vegan cheddar cheese, we immediately thought to try it with pasta and it worked perfectly! The resemblance to boxed shells and cheese was uncanny!

Easy Vegan Mac and Cheese from Minimalist Baker →

The BEST Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwich

After not being thrilled with the vegan cheese selections at the store, we set out to make our own, specifically cheddar! Cheddar is a classic flavor that’s so versatile, vibrant in color, and delicious on things like grilled cheese, mac ‘n&#8217…

The BEST Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwich

After not being thrilled with the vegan cheese selections at the store, we set out to make our own, specifically cheddar! Cheddar is a classic flavor that’s so versatile, vibrant in color, and delicious on things like grilled cheese, mac ‘n’ cheese, and more (swoon). And after cracking the code on vegan cheddar cheese, it was time to make a grilled cheese sandwich!

Thick slices of sourdough are buttered and spread with a generous layer of vegan cheddar cheese then grilled until toasty and golden brown.

The BEST Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwich from Minimalist Baker →

Easy Vegan Cheddar Cheese (Spread & Sauce!)

If you’re dairy-free, vegan, or just trying to cut back on dairy cheese, this is the recipe for you! In our quest to find a quick and easy cheese to make vegan grilled cheese, we crafted this simple, delicious, vegan cheddar cheese spread made with 8 w…

Easy Vegan Cheddar Cheese (Spread & Sauce!)

If you’re dairy-free, vegan, or just trying to cut back on dairy cheese, this is the recipe for you! In our quest to find a quick and easy cheese to make vegan grilled cheese, we crafted this simple, delicious, vegan cheddar cheese spread made with 8 wholesome ingredients.

The best part? It looks and tastes like cheddar cheese! Okay, maybe it doesn’t melt exactly like cheddar cheese, but the flavor and color are there!

Easy Vegan Cheddar Cheese (Spread & Sauce!) from Minimalist Baker →

Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese & Pistachios

This roasted beet salad with greens is exactly what I’m craving right now. It’s hearty, fresh and spring-y, which is perfect as the weather turns from downright…

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roasted beet arugula salad recipe

This roasted beet salad with greens is exactly what I’m craving right now. It’s hearty, fresh and spring-y, which is perfect as the weather turns from downright arctic to patio-worthy. Cookie and I couldn’t be more excited about the warmer temperatures and sunnier days! I bet you can relate.

This salad was inspired by the beet salads at my favorite local French restaurants, Westport Café and French Market. Over the past year, I’ve really missed sipping wine in their establishments and soaking up their vibes. You should know that I’m constantly daydreaming of a French vacation.

Both restaurants offer beet salads with pistachios and goat cheese, yet they each have their own unique spin on the combination. I always order the beet salad and French fries, naturally!

roasted beet salad ingredients

This recipe incorporates my go-to method for roasting beets, which yields amazing flavor. I used arugula as the base, which contrasts nicely with the earthy flavor of the beets.

Then I added goat cheese and pistachios, plus some radish and green onion for extra freshness and some crunch. The zippy, Dijon-forward vinaigrette brings it all together. Serve this salad as a side dish or enjoy a large portion for a satisfying but light dinner.

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Easy Peanut Butter Patties (AKA Tagalongs!)

Girl Scout cookies have a special place in my heart because I used to be a Girl Scout. Not to brag, but I did win the prize for most cookies sold in my troop one year despite suffering a sprained ankle the week prior. That’s dedication. The cookies I s…

Easy Peanut Butter Patties (AKA Tagalongs!)

Girl Scout cookies have a special place in my heart because I used to be a Girl Scout. Not to brag, but I did win the prize for most cookies sold in my troop one year despite suffering a sprained ankle the week prior. That’s dedication. The cookies I sold the most of (besides Thin Mints)? Tagalongs! If you’ve never had Tagalongs, also known as Peanut Butter Patties, you’re in for a treat!

A crisp, shortbread-style cookie is topped with creamy peanut butter and enveloped in melted chocolate.

Easy Peanut Butter Patties (AKA Tagalongs!) from Minimalist Baker →

Easy 1-Pot Vegan Spaghetti (30 Minutes!)

Want spaghetti but don’t have the energy to boil water, drain pasta, and make a from-scratch sauce? Us either!
Try our simplified take on spaghetti made in 1 pot with plenty of veggies, perfectly al dente spaghetti noodles, and hearty marinara sauce. …

Easy 1-Pot Vegan Spaghetti (30 Minutes!)

Want spaghetti but don’t have the energy to boil water, drain pasta, and make a from-scratch sauce? Us either!

Try our simplified take on spaghetti made in 1 pot with plenty of veggies, perfectly al dente spaghetti noodles, and hearty marinara sauce. Top with vegan parmesan cheese and fresh basil for the ultimate 30-minute weeknight meal! Perfect for making ahead and enjoying throughout the week. Let us show you how it’s done!

Easy 1-Pot Vegan Spaghetti (30 Minutes!) from Minimalist Baker →

Perfect Roasted Beets

These roasted beets are for everyone! If you already love beets, I think you’ll be a big fan of this foil-free roasted beet recipe. If you don’t…

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perfect roasted beets recipe

These roasted beets are for everyone! If you already love beets, I think you’ll be a big fan of this foil-free roasted beet recipe. If you don’t enjoy beets (yet), this roasting method just might change your mind.

These roasted beets feature lightly caramelized, tender-but-not-quite-crisp exteriors and deep, condensed flavor. I don’t love beets in all applications, but these? I have to stop myself from devouring the whole pan before dinner.

fresh beets

The trick to pan-roasted beets is to drop the temperature a bit. I always roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, carrots, and pretty much all the other veggies at 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

For beets, since we don’t want crispy outsides (tender is nicer), we’ll roast at 375 degrees. Easy!

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Classic Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies (1 Bowl!)

Good news: After lots of testing (10 rounds!) we cracked the code for the ultimate classic vegan chocolate chip cookie.
It’s buttery, salty-sweet, studded with melty chocolate chips, crisp on the edges, and tender in the center. Swoon! Plus, it’s made…

Classic Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies (1 Bowl!)

Good news: After lots of testing (10 rounds!) we cracked the code for the ultimate classic vegan chocolate chip cookie.

It’s buttery, salty-sweet, studded with melty chocolate chips, crisp on the edges, and tender in the center. Swoon! Plus, it’s made in just 1 bowl with 9 simple ingredients. Let us show you how it’s done!

We’re no strangers to chocolate chip cookies (exhibits A, B, C, D, E, & more).

Classic Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies (1 Bowl!) from Minimalist Baker →

Easy Vegan Moussaka

This vegan moussaka recipe was a work in progress for weeks until we got the perfected method just right! Layers of roasted eggplant meld perfectly with a hearty tomato lentil filling, which is topped with a show-stopping roasted garlic cashew bechamel…

Easy Vegan Moussaka

This vegan moussaka recipe was a work in progress for weeks until we got the perfected method just right! Layers of roasted eggplant meld perfectly with a hearty tomato lentil filling, which is topped with a show-stopping roasted garlic cashew bechamel.

Flavor is abundant here despite the 10 simple ingredients required. Let us show you how it’s done!

Origins of Moussaka

Moussaka is a popular dish in Greece and beyond.

Easy Vegan Moussaka from Minimalist Baker →