Skip to main content

Mexican Fiesta Soup with Roasted Tomatillo and Cilantro Pesto

Cilantro’s pungent fragrance partners well with fruity tomatillos in a lively pesto. The mixture offsets the spiciness of the cumin and jalapeño in this delectable soup.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4

Ingredients

4 tomatillos, peeled and rinsed
2/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves, packed, rinsed well
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 small white onion, diced
1 jalapeño pepper, diced, plus more sliced for garnish (optional)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes (about 8 tomatoes), drained and crushed
3 ears corn, quartered
4 cups homemade or low-sodium store-bought chicken stock, skimmed of fat
Freshly ground pepper
1/2 ripe avocado, pitted, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
Nonstick cooking spray

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 375°F. Place the tomatillos on a small rimmed baking sheet. Roast in the oven, turning once midway through, until they are softened and slightly charred, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, and let cool slightly. Transfer to the bowl of a food processor; add the cilantro, 1 garlic clove, and lime juice. Process until smooth and combined; set aside.

    Step 2

    Lightly coat the bottom of a large nonstick saucepan with cooking spray. Add the onion, remaining garlic clove, and diced jalapeño; cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat until the onion is softened, about 7 minutes. Add the cumin, tomatoes, corn, and chicken stock. Bring the liquid to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer until the vegetables are tender, 12 to 15 minutes.

    Step 3

    Remove from heat; stir in 3 tablespoons reserved tomatillo mixture, and season with pepper. Add the sliced avocado. Ladle into serving bowls; garnish with jalapeño slices, if desired. Serve with the remaining tomatillo pesto.

  2. Fit to eat recipe

    Step 4

    (Per serving)

    Step 5

    Calories: 230

    Step 6

    Fat: 6g

    Step 7

    Cholesterol: 3mg

    Step 8

    Carbohydrate: 41g

    Step 9

    Sodium: 717mg

    Step 10

    Protein: 9g

    Step 11

    Fiber: 7g

The cookbook cover with a blue background and fine typeface.
Reprinted with permission from The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics by Martha Stewart Living Magazine, copyright © 2007. Published by Clarkson Potter, a division of The Crown Publishing Group. Buy the full book from Amazon.
Read More
Like Greek lemon potatoes and gochujang chicken stir-fry.
This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Thinly sliced and cooked hot and fast, pork tenderloin is the juicy, cook-quicking weeknight champion of this vegetable-heavy stir-fry.
Chicken breasts reach their full potential in this spicy, saucy stir-fry with blistered green beans.
Add a bag of potato chips and you've got yourself a party.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Like fattoush salad and strawberry shortcake roll.