Mexican Chicken Bean and Veggie Soup

I had a jalepeno pepper and some avocados, so I decided it would be a Mexican dinner tonight. I also had the time tonight, so I cooked the beans first before adding the chicken so I could be sure the beans were tender.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)
• 1 tablespoon powdered garlic
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 1 jalepeno pepper, finely diced (remove some stems and seeds depending on spice level)
• 8 ounces mild green chilis (2 small cans)
• 1 cup dry pinto beans (or use 1 can rinsed and drained beans)
• 2 teaspoons salt, more to taste
• 1 teaspoons cumin
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• zest from 1 lime
• up to 6 cups liquid (possibly 4 cups chicken broth and 2 cups water)
• 1 x 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes with the juices
• 2 lbs chicken (boneless, skinless, fresh or frozen) left whole
• optional - 1 cup frozen corn (I had leftovers)
• juice from 1–2 limes

Instructions:

1. Add oil to Instant Pot, and saute onion while dicing other veggies. Stir garlic into onion for 30 seconds or so.
2. Stir in other veggies, spices, beans, and 3 cups of the water/broth mix.
3. Seal pot, and pressure cook on high for 22 minutes, allow natural release.
4. Add tomatoes and 4th cup of broth/water to pot.
5. Add chicken to pot, pressure cook on high for 8 - 10 minutes, allow 5 minutes of natural release, then quick release. (Use 12 minutes on high for frozen chicken breasts.)
6. Remove chicken, stir in corn. Change setting too Low Saute.
7. Shred, and return to pot. Squeeze in line juices, and adjust spices as needed. Add in additional water as need to make the soup as broth-y or thick as you like. (I think I used just 4 cups of liquid.)

Carole's Notes:

We liked this - it was quite tasty! We ate it with soft sourdough tortillas. We also used:

fresh cilantro, diced

sliced avocado

3 green onions, thinly sliced

cheddar cheese, sprinkled on top

The recipe is adapted from https://www.feastingathome.com/instant-pot-chicken-tortilla-soup/ and https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/instant-pot-black-beans-with-green-chiles-and-cumin