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Lima Soup
“Mayan Recipe"


This is a historical soup since is the one that the Mayans used to prepare and you are about to try a millenary soup full of history , customs and traditions.

The flavor of this Yucatecan soup is light, refreshing and with a citric touch coming from the lima. But there is more as the soup is accompanied with chicken, tomato, bell pepper, coriander, tortilla chips and more ingredients that give a sensational flavor . It is definitely a soup that whets the appetite, nourishes the spirit and excites the diner with what may come afterwards.



The lima, the magical ingredient of this soup , comes from the citrus family and it is NOT a lime, nor a lemon, nor a grapefruit, nor an orange. The lima is lima and the lima soup can only be prepared with lima.

– It is difficult to describe the lima’s flavor but it gives the sensation of tasting a sweet lime although the reality is that its flavor is unique. The lima looks a bit like the lemon and its scientific name is “Citrus Limetta" in case that you want to find out more about this exotic fruit.


About the Recipe

  • In this recipe many simple activities will be performed, you won’t have any problem.
  • Fried tortilla strips are added to this soup. If you want to save some steps they can be bought made.
  • To prepare the soup yellow bell pepper is used you could also use orange color bell pepper.
  • In Yucatan the red onion is widely used therefore the lima soup is prepared with red onion however if you don’t find it white onion could also be used.
  • The soup will be ready in .
  • The recipe serves 4 plates.


Ingredients

  • 3 Limas (5.1 oz)
  • 1 Chicken Breast (7 oz)
  • 1 Tomato (7 oz)
  • 1/2 Yellow Bell Pepper (2.9 oz)
  • 1/2 White Onion (1.7 oz)
  • 1/2 Red Onion (2.6 oz)
  • 1 Garlic clove (.1 oz)
  • 3 Coriander sprigs (1 oz)
  • 1 teaspoon of Oregano
  • 4 Maize Tortillas (2.8 oz)
  • 1 cup of Vegetable Oil (8.4 fl oz)
  • 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil
  • Pepper to taste
  • 1/2 tablespoon of Salt


    • Cookware

  • 1 Saucepan with Lid
  • 1 Frying Pan
  • 1 Food Container
  • 1 Measuring Cup
  • 1 Chopping Board
  • 1 Tongs
  • 1 Kitchen Spoon
  • 1 Turner
  • 1 Knife
  • 2 Paper Towels
  • 1 Lime Squeezer (optional)


    • Directions

    Cook the Chicken


    1. Clean 1 chicken breast, put it in a saucepan and reserve.
    2. Cut 1 lima (1.7 oz) into quarters and put them in the saucepan.
    3. Also add in the saucepan:
    • 1/2 White Onion.
    • 1 Garlic clove.
    • The enough Water to cover all the ingredients.
    • 1/2 tablespoon of Salt.


    1. Bring the saucepan water to a boil over high heat.
    2. When it boils cover the saucepan and leave the chicken cooking in the boiling water for about 20 minutes, until it is well cooked.


    Make sure that the chicken is always covered with water because it will consume. If scum accumulates on the surface remove it.


    While the Chicken is Ready... Cut some Ingredients


    1. Slice 1 lima (1.7 oz) and reserve.
    2. Cut 4 corn tortillas into strips, then set aside.
    3. Dice 1 tomato, then reserve.
    4. Remove the seeds and the veins of 1/2 yellow bell pepper.
    5. Cut into small chunks the 1/2 yellow bell pepper with the one you worked and reserve.
    6. Finely chop 1/2 red onion and 3 coriander sprigs; then set aside.

    Fry the Tortillas Strips


    1. Pour in a frying pan approximately 1 cup of vegetable oil, so you end up having about a 1/2’’ deep oil layer.
    2. Heat the frying pan oil over high heat.
    3. Introduce in the frying pan the tortilla strips that were cut and fry them for approximately 1 minute, until they are moderately fried; move them occasionally with some tongs.
    4. Transfer from the frying pan to some paper towels, with the tongs, the tortilla strips that were fried so they dry and the fat excess is absorbed. Then set aside.

    Back to the Chicken...


    1. Verify that the chicken that was left cooking is well cooked, its color must be white outside and inside; if not cook it for a longer time.
    2. Take from the saucepan the chicken breast, with the kitchen spoon, wait until it cools a little and shred it; then set aside.
    3. Strain over a food container the broth where the chicken was cooked.
    4. Pour in a measuring cup the chicken stock that was strained and verify of having 4 cups of chicken stock (1 qt); then reserve.



    Fry some Ingredients


    1. Heat in the saucepan over medium heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
    2. Add in the saucepan the red onion that was minced and fry it for approximately 1 minute, until it is lightly fried; stir regularly.
    3. Incorporate in the saucepan:
    • The Tomato dices that were cut.
    • The small chunks of Yellow Bell Pepper that were cut.


    1. Mix the saucepan ingredients and fry them for about 2 minutes, until the tomato and the yellow bell pepper are lightly fried; stir regularly.

    Cook the Ingredients


    1. Add in the saucepan, along with the other ingredients:
    • The Coriander that was minced.
    • The Chicken that was shredded.
    • The 4 cups of Chicken Stock that were measured (1 qt).
    • The juice of 1 Lima (1.7 oz).
    • 1 teaspoon of Oregano.
    • Pepper to taste.


    1. Mix the saucepan ingredients.
    2. Bring the lima soup to a boil over high heat.
    3. When the lima soup boils reduce to low heat, cover the saucepan and leave it cooking for 5 minutes, so the flavors mix.
    4. Serve the lima soup and put in each plate.
    • 2 slices of the Lima that was cut.
    • Some of the Tortilla Strips that were fried.



    The Mayans were
    Very Good Cooks!

    Lima Soup



    Tip: The lima soup can also be accompanied with roasted and minced habanero peppers so it has more hotness .


    Suggestion: You can also grate some of the lima skin, without reaching the pith, and put it in each plate. In this way the lima soup will fill of a very refreshing aroma.



    Did you like the Lima Soup?





    Now For Main Course


    ⎑ Grilled Steak
    ⎑ Veracruz Style Fish
    ⎑ Green Enchiladas with Cottage Cheese
    ⎑ Flautas with Chorizo and Potatoes
    ⎑ Chicken in Red Pipian Sauce


    Additional Info





    This is the lima that can be used to make the soup – its flavor is sweet and citric just what is needed to give a delicious flavor to your soup.



    To make the soup stand out, you have to add a beautiful yellow color with the bell pepper.



    As you are cooking Yucatecan food decorate your kitchen with a Yucatecan ornament.

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