This beloved Mexican soup is light, yet offers all the comfort of hearty south-of-the-border fare. It also is naturally gluten-free. While you can substitute GF tortilla chips, homemade fried tortilla strips are excellent—best the day they’re made and easily stored for up to three days in an airtight container.
Meanwhile, fill a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan with 2 inches of vegetable oil and heat over medium-high heat to 365°F or until bubbles form and begin to float up around the handle of a wooden spoon when dipped into the oil. Working in batches, fry the tortilla strips until crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels and season to taste with salt.