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Mexican Chicken Lime Soup Recipe: Zesty Comfort in a Bowl

Mexican Chicken Lime Soup in rustic bowl with toppings
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A traditional dish from Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, this Mexican Chicken Lime Soup (Sopa de Lima) is a zesty, comforting chicken soup with bright citrus flavor, gentle heat, and nourishing ingredients—perfect for chilly evenings or when you’re under the weather.

Ingredients

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For the Soup:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 large tomato, diced
  • ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 limes, juiced
  • 1 bay leaf

For Toppings (Optional but Recommended!):

  • 1 avocado, sliced
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges
  • 1 cup tortilla strips (store-bought or homemade)
  • ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté for about 3 minutes until soft and translucent.

2. Add garlic and diced jalapeño to the pot and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.

3. Stir in ground cumin and dried oregano. Pour in the chicken broth and add bay leaf, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer.

4. Carefully add chicken breasts to the broth. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked.

5. Remove chicken from the pot and shred it using two forks. Discard bay leaf.

6. Return shredded chicken to the pot along with diced tomato. Simmer for another 5 minutes to combine flavors.

7. Turn off the heat and stir in fresh lime juice.

8. Ladle soup into bowls and top with avocado slices, chopped cilantro, tortilla strips, and red onion.

9. Serve with lime wedges on the side and enjoy!

Notes

Keep toppings separate when storing leftovers to maintain texture and freshness.

Add lime juice gradually and adjust to taste for your preferred citrus level.

Double the recipe for meal prep or to feed a larger group—this soup stores and reheats well.

Find it online: https://cookingwithramsay.com/mexican-chicken-lime-soup/