Best 6 Sopa De Lima Yucatan Lime Soup Recipes

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Embark on a culinary journey to the heart of Yucatán with Sopa de Lima, a traditional Mexican soup that tantalizes the taste buds with its vibrant flavors and refreshing tang. This delectable soup, deeply rooted in Mayan cuisine, is a harmonious blend of zesty limes, aromatic herbs, and the warmth of chicken or vegetable broth.

Sopa de Lima, meaning "lime soup" in Spanish, is a symphony of flavors that features the unique combination of sour limes and spicy habaneros, balanced by the sweetness of carrots and the earthy tones of cumin and oregano. The soup's versatility allows for variations, including the addition of chicken or vegetables, making it a delightful option for both meat lovers and vegetarians.

This article presents two variations of Sopa de Lima: the classic chicken version and a flavorful vegetarian alternative. Both recipes guide you through the culinary process with step-by-step instructions, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable cooking experience.

For the chicken version, tender chicken breasts simmer in a savory broth infused with the tangy brightness of limes, while the vegetarian variation showcases a medley of fresh vegetables, each contributing its distinct flavor to the hearty broth.

As you delve into these recipes, you'll discover the secrets of creating an authentic Sopa de Lima, learning how to extract the perfect balance of flavors from simple yet essential ingredients. With its vibrant green hue and tantalizing aroma, Sopa de Lima promises to transport you to the vibrant streets of Yucatán, where this beloved soup is a staple in every kitchen.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

SOPA DE LIMA (MEXICAN LIME SOUP)



Sopa De Lima (Mexican Lime Soup) image

Hot or cold outside, this soup is light and refreshing. I first enjoyed this dish while sitting ocean-side in Mexico. Goes great with a margarita or beer and a side of chips and salsa. Use whatever chilies you want (hot or mild) depending on the amount of heat you enjoy. Serve in bowls with crushed tortilla chips or strips on top.

Provided by Amatre

Categories     Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes     Soup Recipes     Tortilla Soup Recipes

Time 1h5m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 16

9 cups chicken broth
5 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 large red onion, quartered
5 cloves garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 green onions, chopped
1 large green chile pepper, seeded and chopped
2 large tomatoes, peeled and chopped
6 limes, juiced
½ lime
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
tortilla chips, for topping

Steps:

  • Bring the chicken broth, chicken breasts, red onion, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, and thyme to a boil in a large pot; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the chicken breasts are no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 15 to 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove the cooked chicken to a cutting board and shred into bite-sized strips; return to the simmering pot.
  • Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook the green onions and green chile pepper in the hot oil until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir the tomatoes into the mixture and continue cooking until soft, about 5 minute more; pour the mixture into the pot with the chicken soup. Season with the salt; return the soup to a simmer. Add the lime juice and 1/2 a lime; cook another 10 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and remove the lime half; stir in the cilantro to serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 217.3 calories, Carbohydrate 21.8 g, Cholesterol 44.8 mg, Fat 7.2 g, Fiber 3.8 g, Protein 18.3 g, SaturatedFat 1.1 g, Sodium 1693.4 mg, Sugar 5.1 g

SOPA DE LIMA



Sopa de Lima image

The most famous soup from the Yucatan, sopa de lima highlights the subtle, sweet, bergamot-like flavor of limas, a type of citrus from the region. Meyer lemon is a close second from what we can find in the U.S. The soup is traditionally seasoned with a classic recado, a mixture of warm spices, garlic and bitter orange (naranja agria) juice, and the chicken is usually boiled plain. In this rendition, the chicken gets a recado rub and is marinated for a few hours to capture the essence of the spices. Browning the chicken until crispy and then cooking it through in the soup builds on the flavors that keep you coming back for more.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 3h10m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest plus 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from a regular lemon)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 to 3 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, drumsticks and chicken breasts
2 tablespoons canola oil
3/4 cup finely diced yellow onion
10 ounces tomatoes (about 3 medium), diced
1 yellow bell pepper, finely diced
6 cups chicken broth or water
1 Meyer lemon, thinly sliced and seeded, plus thin wedges for serving, optional (see Cook's Note)
1 1/2 cups peanut or avocado oil, for frying
6 tortillas, thinly sliced, or 2 cups store-bought tortilla chips

Steps:

  • Combine the orange juice, (regular) lemon juice, oregano, cinnamon, cumin, cloves, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Rub the mixture all over the chicken, place in a resealable bag or a covered bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
  • Add the canola oil to a large Dutch oven and heat over medium-high heat. Add the chicken skin-side down in batches and cook until the skin is crispy and brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Using tongs, turn the chicken and continue to cook and turn until the skin is well browned on all sides, about 5 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a large plate and reserve.
  • Add the onion to the chicken drippings in the pot and cook, stirring frequently, until soft and translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, bell pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have released most of their juices, 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Return the chicken to the pot and add the broth, lemon zest, Meyer lemon slices and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the chicken to a cutting board or plate. When cool enough to handle, shred the meat off the bones and return it to the pot.
  • Meanwhile, make the tiritas de totopos (alternatively, you can use store-bought tortilla chips). Add the peanut oil to a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until shimmering. Working in 4 batches, fry the tortilla strips in 4 batches until lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer each batch to a bowl using a slotted spoon or a spider and season with salt, about 1/4 teaspoon per batch, tossing to coat. Place on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil and repeat with the remaining batches.
  • Divide the soup and chicken among bowls. Garnish with the crispy tortilla chips and Meyer lemon wedges if desired.

SOPA DE LIMA (YUCATAN LIME SOUP)



Sopa de Lima (Yucatan Lime Soup) image

Provided by Food Network

Time 45m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

8 corn tortillas
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Salt
1 medium onion, chopped
1 celery rib, thinly sliced
1 carrot, thinly sliced
1 jalapeno or serrano pepper, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano, crumbled
1 large tomato, peeled and chopped
8 cups chicken stock or canned low sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 green onions, finely chopped
3 limes, juiced (about 1/3 cup)
1 large avocado, peeled, pitted and coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Steps:

  • Cut the tortillas into 1/4-inch strips. Heat the oil in a medium skillet and, when very hot, fry the tortilla strips, in small batches, until lightly golden and crisp, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Transfer to paper towel lined plate to drain. Season with salt, to taste. Repeat until all tortilla strips have been fried. Set fried tortilla strips aside and reserve the vegetable oil.
  • Transfer 1 tablespoon of the reserved cooking oil to a large saucepan and add the chopped onion, celery, carrot, and jalapeno pepper. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until vegetables have softened, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, bay leaf, and Mexican oregano and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the tomato and season lightly with salt. Cook, stirring, until the tomato is softened and has released its liquid and the mixture is nearly dry, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock and chicken breasts and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a slow simmer and cook until the chicken is just cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove chicken from the soup and set aside until cool enough to handle. Allow soup to continue simmering.
  • When the chicken has cooled a bit, shred into bite size pieces and return to the pot along with the green onions and lime juice. Cook for 5 minutes, or until the chicken is heated through and the soup is piping hot. Season the soup, to taste, with salt and ladle the soup into wide soup bowls, with a handful of tortilla strips added to each bowl. Garnish with the avocado and cilantro and serve immediately.

SOPA DE LIMA (MERIDA, YUCATAN)



Sopa De Lima (Merida, Yucatan) image

Make and share this Sopa De Lima (Merida, Yucatan) recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Annacia

Categories     Chicken Breast

Time 1h10m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 limes (Green-Yellow lime, only the juice)
2 limes, for garnish (cut in slices)
8 tortillas, de maiz (cut in large pieces)
1 chicken breast, diced
4 cups chicken broth ((authentic-real)
1 teaspoon chicken broth, dried
4 tomatoes (jitomates, ground or very finely chopped with the juice)
1 onion
green chiles serranos (optional)
1 avocado, for to adorn (garnish)
vegetable oil (for frying tortillas)
salt and pepper

Steps:

  • Fry the tortilla slices in vegetable oil. Let stand in absorbent paper.
  • Put the onion,diced in a sarten (pot) with oil, when onion is transparent put in the tomato with it's juice.
  • Let it cook on low heat 20 minutes and add the chicken, chicken broth dried (I used chicken soup base), lime juice, salt and pepper and chile if using.
  • Simmer on med low till chicken is cooked through.
  • Add fried tortilla strips and garnish with lime and avocado, serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 672, Fat 23.4, SaturatedFat 5.1, Cholesterol 23.2, Sodium 1675.8, Carbohydrate 91.5, Fiber 11.5, Sugar 9.3, Protein 27

SOPA DE LIMA (YUCATAN LIME SOUP)



Sopa De Lima (Yucatan Lime Soup) image

Make and share this Sopa De Lima (Yucatan Lime Soup) recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Linajjac

Categories     < 4 Hours

Time 1h15m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 17

8 corn tortillas
1/2 cup vegetable oil
salt
1 medium onion, chopped
1 celery rib, thinly sliced
1 carrot, thinly sliced
1 jalapenos or 1 serrano pepper, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano, crumbled
1 large tomatoes, peeled and chopped
8 cups chicken stock or 8 cups canned low sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 green onions, finely chopped
3 limes, juice of (about 1/3 cup)
1 large avocado, peeled, pitted and coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Steps:

  • Cut the tortillas into 1/4-inch strips. Heat the oil in a medium skillet and, when very hot, fry the tortilla strips, in small batches, until lightly golden and crisp, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Transfer to paper towel lined plate to drain. Season with salt, to taste. Repeat until all tortilla strips have been fried. Set fried tortilla strips aside and reserve the vegetable oil.
  • Transfer 1 tablespoon of the reserved cooking oil to a large saucepan and add the chopped onion, celery, carrot, and jalapeno pepper. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until vegetables have softened, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, bay leaf, and Mexican oregano and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the tomato and season lightly with salt. Cook, stirring, until the tomato is softened and has released its liquid and the mixture is nearly dry, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock and chicken breasts and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a slow simmer and cook until the chicken is just cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove chicken from the soup and set aside until cool enough to handle. Allow soup to continue simmering.
  • When the chicken has cooled a bit, shred into bite size pieces and return to the pot along with the green onions and lime juice. Cook for 5 minutes, or until the chicken is heated through and the soup is piping hot. Season the soup, to taste, with salt and ladle the soup into wide soup bowls, with a handful of tortilla strips added to each bowl. Garnish with the avocado and cilantro and serve immediately.

LIME SOUP (SOPA DE LIMA)



Lime Soup (Sopa De Lima) image

Provided by Joe Drape

Categories     dinner, lunch, soups and stews, main course

Time 45m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Vegetable oil for frying
8 ounces corn tortillas (preferably a mixture of red, white and blue), cut into 1-inch strips
1 8- to 9-inch stick Mexican cinnamon, broken into pieces
2 teaspoons dried Mexican oregano
5 whole cloves
8 cups chicken stock
1 pound chicken breast, cut into 3/4 inch dice
4 to 6 tablespoons fresh lime juice, as needed, plus 4 to 6 slices of lime, for garnish
Salt
8 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2 avocados, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
1/2 cup finely sliced cilantro leaves

Steps:

  • Place a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add about 1/2 inch oil. Set aside a baking sheet lined with paper towels. When oil shimmers, add a strip of tortilla; oil is hot enough when tortilla becomes crisp and very lightly browned in about 30 seconds. Adjust heat as necessary and add strips in batches, transferring to paper towels as they cook.
  • Heat oven or toaster-oven to 400 degrees. Place cinnamon pieces, oregano and cloves on a baking sheet or metal tray, and roast until lightly browned and fragrant, about 5 minutes; be careful not to burn.
  • Place chicken stock in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Add roasted spices, lower heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Pour stock through a fine-meshed strainer into a clean pan, and return to a simmer. Add diced chicken and simmer until chicken is opaque in center, about 10 minutes. Add 4 to 6 tablespoons lime juice, as desired, and season with salt to taste.
  • To serve, place equal portions of chicken in center of each soup plate. Top with a small mound of fried tortilla strips and 1 to 2 tablespoons shredded cheese. Pour chicken broth into bowl, keeping mound intact. Garnish each bowl with avocado, a slice of lime and cilantro.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 875, UnsaturatedFat 49 grams, Carbohydrate 35 grams, Fat 67 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 37 grams, SaturatedFat 14 grams, Sodium 1335 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams, TransFat 0 grams

Tips:

  • Use fresh, ripe limes for the best flavor.
  • If you don't have chicken broth, you can use vegetable broth or water.
  • Add the chicken or shrimp last, so they don't overcook.
  • Serve the soup hot, garnished with cilantro, avocado, and tortilla chips.
  • For a vegetarian version of the soup, omit the chicken or shrimp and add more vegetables, such as zucchini, carrots, or bell peppers.

Conclusion:

Sopa de lima is a refreshing, flavorful soup that is perfect for a hot day. It is also a healthy and easy-to-make dish that is sure to please everyone at your table. Whether you are looking for a traditional Mexican soup or a new and exciting recipe to try, sopa de lima is a great choice. With its bright, citrusy flavor and healthy ingredients, it is a soup that you will enjoy time and time again.

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