Smoky Chipotle Chicken Chowder

Ingredients

For the Chicken

• 1 (3 1/2 lb)  whole roasting chickens

• 1 head garlic, coarsely chopped
• 1 onion, quartered
• 1 lime, quartered
• 1 teaspoon cumin seed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• kosher salt (as needed)
• black pepper (as needed)

For the Chowder

• 8 slices bacon
• 1 onion, chopped
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 62 1/2 ounces chicken broth or stock
• 1 1/2 lbs small red potatoes, chopped
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 1 red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 4-6 tablespoons cold water
• 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk powder
• 3 canned chipotle chiles, chopped
• 1-2 tablespoon adobo sauce (from canned chipotles)
• 1 cup grated monterey jack cheese
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 3 corn tortillas or 1 cup broken tortilla chips
• oil (as needed, to fry corn tortillas) (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 475°F.

2. 2

   Rinse chicken and pat dry, and stuff cavity with garlic, onion, lime, and cumin seed.

3. 3

   Seal cavity with skewers or toothpicks.

4. 4

   Fold wing tips under bird.

5. 5

   Rub exterior of bird with olive oil and season liberally with salt and pepper.

6. 6

   Place on a roasting rack in a shallow roasting pan and roast, uncovered, at 475F for 15 minutes.

7. 7

   Reduce oven temperature to 375F and continue to cook chicken, for 60-75 minutes or until temperature in the thickest part of thigh reads at least 160°F.

8. 8

   Allow chicken to rest for 30 minutes without carving.

9. 9

   Cook bacon in a skillet until cooked through and crisp; drain on paper towels, reserving 2 tbsp bacon drippings.

10. 10

    Place bacon drippings into the bottom of a large dutch oven, and add onion and garlic.

11. 11

    Cook until tender, then add chicken broth, potatoes, wine, bell pepper, ground cumin, salt, and pepper.

12. 12

    Bring mixture to a boil and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until potatoes are cooked through and tender.

13. 13

    Meanwhile, remove meat from chicken, discarding fat, skin, and bone.

14. 14

    Chop chicken coarsely and set aside.

15. 15

    Mix together dry milk with cold water until smooth in a small bowl and set aside.

16. 16

    Heat oil several inches deep in a large skillet.

17. 17

    Using a pizza cutter or kitchen shears, cut tortillas into thin strips.

18. 18

    Fry tortilla strips until crispy and golden, then drain on paper toweling and set aside (or may use broken tortilla chips).

19. 19

    When potatoes in chowder are tender, add cooked chopped chicken, milk mixture, chopped chipotles with adobo (adjust amount for your own taste), and grated cheese.

20. 20

    Cook, stirring over low heat just until cheese melts- do not boil or cheese will become grainy.

21. 21

    Just before serving, stir in chopped cilantro, and top each bowl of chowder with tortilla strips.