10 Best Herbs and Spices for Chicken Tortilla Soup

Searching for the best herbs and spices to transform a boring pot of chicken tortilla soup into something extraordinary?

Look no further!

I’m here to share my top picks for ingredients that will take your bowlful from humdrum to heavenly.

Plus, since it’s easy to find these seasonings at any store, you’ll be able to add layers of flavor without major hassle.

Ready your taste buds—these are the 10 best herbs and spices for chicken tortilla soup.

Read Also: What To Serve With Chicken Tortilla Soup – 50 Best Side Dishes

1. Cumin

Cumin is an earthy, nutty spice that can add a great deal of flavor to your dishes.

It pairs especially well with chicken and other types of meat.

When used correctly, it can take your soup from boring to extraordinary!

When preparing cumin for your soup recipe, you should lightly toast the whole seeds in a pan over medium heat until they become fragrant.

This will bring out their full flavor and aroma.

After this, it’s ready to use.

Start by adding just a small amount – around 1 teaspoon – as it has strong flavors and can easily overpower other ingredients if you’re not careful.

Taste the soup as you go along and adjust accordingly until it reaches the desired level of flavor for you.

Cumin also pairs wonderfully with vegetables such as onions, carrots, peppers, potatoes or squash – so feel free to add some of these for extra texture and taste!

Read Also: The 10 Best Toppings for Chicken Tortilla Soup

2. Coriander

Coriander is a bright, flavorful herb with a citrusy and earthy taste.

It can bring an exotic flavor to your dishes that you won’t find in many other herbs.

The leaves of the coriander plant have a milder taste than the seeds, which have more of a peppery flavor.

When it comes to adding it to your soup recipe, start small – about one teaspoon should do the trick!

If you like the flavor, add more gradually until it reaches the desired level.

To prepare coriander for your soup recipe, simply chop or crush the seeds before adding them into your pot of soup.

Or if using fresh leaves or stems from a plant, just toss them directly into your pot for added flavor without needing any extra prep work.

3. Paprika

Paprika is a type of ground spice made from dried red peppers.

It has a mild, slightly sweet flavor with hints of smokiness and earthiness.

Paprika can range in color from bright orange to deep red-brown and the intensity of its flavor depends on the variety used.

To add paprika to your soup recipe, start with 1/2 teaspoon per 4 servings as it can be quite strong in large amounts.

You can always add more if needed after tasting the soup.

To prepare paprika for use in soups or stews, it’s best to lightly toast it before adding it to the pot – this will bring out its flavor even more!

4. Fresh and Dried Chilis

Fresh and dried chili peppers have a unique taste that can really bring life to any dish.

Fresh chilis tend to be spicier than their dried counterparts, so if you’re looking for more of a kick in your soup, fresh is the way to go.

Dried chilis are more smoky and earthy in flavor with a bit less heat.

How much chili pepper you add depends on how spicy you like your soup.

For milder soups, start with 1-2 teaspoons of crushed or chopped fresh chili pepper or 1/4 teaspoon of ground dried chili pepper. You can always add more as needed!

Preparing the chili pepper is simple: just remove the stem and seeds before adding it to your soup recipe (or leave them in for extra spice).

If using dry chilies, make sure they are rehydrated by soaking them in hot water before adding them into the pot.

5. Garlic Powder

Garlic powder is a great addition to any soup recipe as it adds an intense flavor and aroma!

The taste of garlic powder is very similar to fresh garlic, but with a slightly more concentrated and acidic taste.

When adding garlic powder to your chicken tortilla soup, I recommend using 1 teaspoon of the spice per 4 servings.

To prepare it, simply mix the garlic powder into the other spices you are using in your soup before adding them to the pot.

This will ensure that all of the flavors blend together nicely and evenly distribute throughout your dish.

Garlic powder is also a great way to add some extra savory depth without having to chop up fresh cloves of garlic – which can be tedious and time-consuming.

6. Onion Powder

Onion powder has a strong, pungent flavor that is both sweet and savory.

It’s a great way to add an extra layer of flavor to any dish without adding extra texture.

For your chicken tortilla soup recipe, I would recommend adding about 1 teaspoon of onion powder.

This should give you the perfect balance between sweetness and saltiness.

To prepare it, simply mix it in with other herbs or spices before adding it to your soup pot.

Onion powder can also be used as a great topping for soups, salads, and sandwiches!

7. Salt

Salt is a basic but essential seasoning that adds an unmistakable saltiness and depth of flavor to any dish.

Salt should be added in moderation, as too much can make food taste overly salty or unpleasantly bitter.

Obviously, the amount of salt you add to your soup will depend on how large the pot is and what type of ingredients you are using.

Generally speaking, adding between 1/2 teaspoon and 1 teaspoon per quart works well for most soups.

If you want to adjust it later, start with less than this amount and then add more if needed after tasting.

When preparing your soup, it’s best to wait until the end of cooking before adding salt so that the flavors have time to develop.

Taste it first and then season accordingly!

8. Black Pepper

Black pepper is a pungent spice that adds an intense flavor to food.

It has a sharp, biting taste with hints of citrus and woody notes.

When used in cooking, it can make dishes more complex and flavorful.

When adding black pepper to your soup recipe, the amount you use will depend on the other herbs and spices you are using as well as personal preference.

A good guideline is 1 teaspoon for every quart of soup, but feel free to adjust this depending on your needs and taste preferences.

To prepare black pepper for your dish, simply crack or grind it into smaller pieces before adding it directly to the pot of soup or sprinkling it over the top when serving.

9. Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is a popular spice that has a unique, spicy flavor.

It has an intense heat and pungent aroma with notes of smokiness.

Cayenne pepper adds depth to dishes and can be used in both sweet and savory recipes.

When adding cayenne pepper to your soup recipe, start by adding just 1/4 teaspoon for mild heat, or 1/2 teaspoon for spicier soups.

Taste it first before you add more; you can always add more if needed!

To prepare the cayenne pepper, simply measure out the desired amount and mix it into your pot of soup at the end of cooking.

You should let the flavors mingle together while simmering on low heat for 15 minutes before serving so that all its spicy goodness comes through!

10. Smoked Paprika

Smoked paprika is a great addition to your soup recipe!

It has a smoky, earthy taste with just the right amount of sweetness.

Smoked paprika adds depth and a unique flavor that will transform any dish from ordinary to extraordinary.

When adding smoked paprika to your soup recipe, start with 1/2 teaspoon and adjust according to taste.

You can easily add more if needed but it’s always better to start off small as the flavor can be quite intense.

To prepare smoked paprika for use in recipes, simply measure out the desired amount and mix it into whatever you are cooking or sprinkle on top after cooking.

Paprika pairs well with other herbs and spices such as garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, oregano, thyme, and more!

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