Spicy Vegetable & Chicken Soup

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Ingredients

  • 2 medium poblano peppers

  • 2 teaspoons neutral oil, such as canola or avocado

  • 12 ounces boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed, cut into bite-size pieces

  • 1 1/2 cups chopped onion (1 large)

  • 1 1/2 cups chopped red or green bell pepper (1 large)

  • 1 ½ cups green beans, cut into 1/4-inch pieces, or frozen, thawed

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder

  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin

  • 6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

  • 1 (15 ounce) can black beans or pinto beans, rinsed

  • 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes

  • 4 cups chopped chard or spinach

  • 1 ½ cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen

  • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro

  • ½ cup fresh lime juice, plus lime wedges for serving

Directions

  1. To roast poblanos: Position oven rack about 5 inches from the heat source; preheat broiler. Line the broiler pan with foil. Broil whole poblanos, turning once, until starting to blacken, 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a paper bag and let steam to loosen skins, about 10 minutes. When the poblanos are cool enough to handle, peel, seed, stem and coarsely chop; set aside.

  2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook, turning occasionally, until lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

  3. Reduce the heat to medium and add onion, bell pepper, green beans and garlic. Cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in chili powder and cumin and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in broth, beans, tomatoes and the chopped poblanos; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.

  4. Add the reserved chicken and juices, chard (or spinach) and corn; return to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes more to heat through and blend flavors.

  5. Top each portion with 1 tablespoon each cilantro and lime juice; serve with lime wedges.