Magnolia Cafe Chicken Tortilla Soup

The smoky heat provided by the Chipotle Sauce sets this tortilla soup apart from the ordinary.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup diced red onion
3/4 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1-1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons Chipotle Sauce (see below), or to taste
8 cups chicken stock
3 cups diced, cooked chicken
2 14.5-ounce cans chopped tomatoes (not stewed tomatoes with peppers and onions)
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
salt and pepper to taste

Heat the oil in a large soup pot. Sauté the onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic until the onion is clear. Add all remaining ingredients and simmer for about 30 minutes.

Garnish with tortilla chips and grated Monterrey Jack cheese. Makes 8 servings.