Description
This High-Protein Rotel Soup with Cottage Cheese & Chicken is a comforting and nutritious dish packed with lean chicken, creamy cottage cheese, and a flavorful blend of spices and tomatoes. Perfect for a hearty lunch or dinner, it combines the zest of Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies and aromatic spices for a deliciously spicy kick, balanced by the creamy texture of blended cottage cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 can (10 ounces) Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat until shimmering to prepare the base for the soup.
- Cook Onions: Add diced onion to the pot and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until translucent and fragrant, softening them to release their sweetness.
- Add Spices and Garlic: Stir in minced garlic, ground cumin, and chili powder, cooking for 1 minute until the mixture becomes fragrant and the spices bloom.
- Add Broth and Tomatoes: Pour in the chicken broth and the can of Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, stirring to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Simmer: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer to allow flavors to meld and the soup to cook gently.
- Add Chicken: Incorporate shredded or diced cooked chicken into the pot, stirring well to distribute the protein throughout the soup.
- Simmer to Blend Flavors: Let the soup simmer for 10 minutes to meld all flavors harmoniously.
- Blend Cottage Cheese: While the soup simmers, blend the cottage cheese in a blender or food processor until smooth and creamy to add richness and protein.
- Incorporate Cottage Cheese: Stir the blended cottage cheese into the hot soup until fully combined, enhancing texture and protein content.
- Season: Taste the soup and adjust seasoning as needed with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls, garnish with chopped fresh cilantro or parsley, and serve hot for a comforting meal.
Notes
- Cooking the onions until translucent is key to building flavor.
- Blending the cottage cheese before adding ensures a creamy texture without curds.
- Use cooked chicken breast for lean protein; leftovers work great.
- This soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stove.
- Adjust chili powder and Rotel tomatoes for spiciness to taste.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute cottage cheese with a creamy plant-based alternative.
