Saturday, March 27, 2010

Yucatan-Style Chicken, Lime, and Orzo Soup





From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite..."Come tip toe through the tulips with me." Really. I'm serious. We spent the day at a tulip fest held by a grower in our area and we had a really fantastic time wandering through 3000 acres of gorgeous, glowing color. We left early and returned late, so dinner, while necessary, was problematic. The cast iron stomachs of youth are just that and after a day of corn dogs, currywurst, and elephant ears, our digestive systems need some pampering to neutralize the grease and sugar we managed to consume while making merry. I'm like Mrs. Pac Man at these events. I have to taste everything that's being sold. I am not fond of corn dogs, but they smell so good my olfactory senses convince my brain that the culinary equivalent of a miracle has occurred and this time the corn dog will be delicious. Of course they never are and they are just the beginning of the problem. Smell those curly fries? I'm there in seconds. Blue cotton candy? I'm weak in the knees. Bob jokes, I hope, that it's less expensive to take me to the opera than a fair. After a day of such excess something light and palate cleansing is in order and this soup is perfect on both those counts. It's a quick fix meal that is perfect for a light spring supper. I found the recipe years ago in a copy of Bon Appetit magazine. They say the soup comes from the Yucatan. That may be, but I suspect it came from a resort rather than a native kitchen. Regardless, it is a lovely soup. I hope you'll try the recipe.

Yucatan-Style Chicken, Lime and Orzo Soup ...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, courtesy of Bon Appetit magazine

Ingredients:

3/4 cup orzo (rice-shaped pasta)
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium white onion, thinly sliced
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 jalapeño chiles, thinly sliced
3/4 pound skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into matchstick-size strips
5 cups low-salt chicken broth
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 large tomato, seeded, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Fresh cilantro sprigs

Directions:
1) Cook orzo in pot of boiling salted water until just tender. Drain well.
2) Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and chiles. Sauté until onion begins to brown, about 4 minutes. Add chicken; sauté 1 minute. Add broth, lime juice, and tomato. Simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 3 minutes. Mix in orzo, then chopped cilantro. Season soup with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into 4 bowls. Garnish with cilantro sprigs. Yield: 4 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Avgolemono - One Perfect Bite
Tortilla Soup - One Perfect Bite
Chicken Long Rice - One Perfect Bite

45 comments :

ann low said...

Love this Chicken, lime and orzo soup. Looks so flavorful. I also liked the picture of tulips, beautiful colours!

MaryMoh said...

What a beautiful picture of a field of tulips! The last time I had such a break-taking experience was my visit to Holland in April a few years back. That was absolutely beautiful. I wished I just stayed among the tulips :D Your chicken dish looks very delicious. I love the added lime. Thanks for sharing.

♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥ said...

Oh sure i'll tiptoes through the tulip's with u...i jus did...gliding on a few ballet steps...:-))))
And boy u sure have a partner in ur PAc Man jaunts.....i love fairs too....and i wanna eat everyhting ....and candy floss.....oh yeah im there is a split second too...
i love this post and ur writing style rocks....always:-)))
So beautifully written that i almost feel the soup on my taste buds and yeah the pic of tulips rocks babes!!!!

Lucie said...

Wow--your photo of the tulips is outstanding! Makes you want to run out and skip around everywhere :)

This definitely sounds like a perfect simple, tasty soup--I'll be making it next week, thanks for sharing this recipe!

Allie and Pattie said...

Mary, this soup looks just lovely- I frequently have days like that what with having to sample frequently. However I am so envious of your tulip festival- how gorgeous!
xoxo Pattie

My Little Space said...

Tulip reminds me of New Zealand! Yes, an abslutely beautiful place. I've been through all four seasons over there. Btw, you orzo soup sounds so delightful. An extra lime will definitely lift up the taste bud! Have a nice day!
Regards, Kristy

Martha said...

This does look good.

I'm like you, I LOVE fairs!!!! Have you ever had funnel cakes? Fried dough sprinkled with mounds of powdered sugar -- actually I think it is as much fried grease as it fried dough!

I'm a pushover!

The tulips look beautiful -- I love tulips!

Sinful Southern Sweets said...

Beautiful flowers! I'm a fair-food lover also. Its just so hard to resist! And the soup looks absolutely lovely and comforting.

Deana Sidney said...

I love that image of Mrs Pacman... and know the feeling... so many things to try...for better or worse...checking out the smells and tastes. But that soup is so simple and full of fresh flavors... what a counterpoint to fair food!

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

I can only imagine the thrill of standing in a large field covered in beautiful tulips!

Mrs Pacman (chuckle) been there, done that!

I'd like to make this soup too. Thanks you for the recipe.

Kindly, ldh

From the Kitchen said...

Thanks for the "soothing" recipe. Our weather has turned colder here in the midwest. When that happens, our palates want "warm". Lovely tulip photo. It reminds me of driving between San Diego and L.A. and then north of L.A. when we lived there. So many fields of lovely flowers growing row on row.

Best,
Bonnie

Anonymous said...

The flowers are beautiful! I want to hear more about your elephant ear! I haven't had one of those in 25 years. We use to go to a street fair in downtown Portland in high school to get them. I remember them as being delicious :) Have a wonderful day! Denise@cottagesisters

Hayley said...

Wow..beautiful Tulips!! reminded me Holland(Keukenhof garden)..Have you seen black Tulip? I saw there..Lovely soup with great click!!

Sarah @ Mum In Bloom said...

I hear what you're saying about letting all your "food rules" out the window when you're on a day's outing. What beautiful pictures. I'm certainly going to give this recipe a try. So light and fresh after a winter of hearty meals. Thanks for the inspiration :)

Kim said...

The tulips are absolutely gorgeous Mary. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful photo with us. The fair sounds like an amazing time:D

Your soup looks like a wonderful pot of "feel good food", just right for settling your stomach after such a fun day!

♥ Kathy said...

I like corn dogs when I make them...I'm not fond of the premade ones. That is the most beautiful field of tulips I've ever seen! Happy Sunday sweetie ♥

The Fajdich Times said...

The tulips are just beautiful....lucky you! Your soup looks fabulous. Stop over I am hosting an Anniversary Giveaway:)

Joanne said...

I'm like you. I have this ridiculous desire to taste everything the world has to offer. Even if I'm pretty sure I won't really like it. This soup looks gorgeous though. I had to look back and forth between it and the picture of the tulips since both are so colorful!

LittleRed said...

Those fields of tulips are just gorgeous....I could spend all day in them:)

Light and Voices said...

I would have loved to tip toed through the tulips with you. Jeepers that must have been a wonderful experience. Lucky you. Soup recipe looks yummy!
Joyce M

Andreas said...

Nice soup. Maybe it really is authentic, because cilantro seems to be too polarizing to be served in a resort?

Even more impressive than the colours of the tulips is the fact that they are grown under an open sky. No green-house in sight. ;)

D said...

Beautiful tulip field photo Mary! It reminds me of the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, CA. While you were enjoying the tulip festival I was transplanting seedlings into 4" pots and more garden cleanup - had to take advantage of the beautiful day.

We love our soups Mary and this looks like a great one to try. Thank you for the recipe.

Karen said...

What a beautiful shot of the flower fields! I like the lime in this soup - seems like it would really brighten it up!

Hungry Dog said...

Looks wonderful and colorful--both the tulips and the soup! Lime is a great addition to a soup like this-really brightens things up.

I love tulips.

Ana Powell said...

Beautiful tulips field.
Delicious and comforting soup x

Lyndas recipe box said...

I'd love to tip toe through those tulips-they are gorgeous.
I'm like that too Mary; I love the smell of food at the fair, but after I eat it, I wish I hadn't been so hasty. Your beautiful soup looks like the perfect remedy!

SMITH BITES said...

I LOVE tulips and these are spectacular!! And the soup is pretty terrific as well - I've made this a time or two but had forgotten all about it until now - thanks for the reminder!

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

Mary you are contributing to an annual discussion around our house...

Your photo is wonderful, and I showed it to Jackie. Tulips are her favorite flowers, and she loved em... Me, give me roses or something that blooms longer and stays pretty more than once a year...

But, with corn dogs and elephant ears... i would celebrate tulip days too

grania said...

this looks gorgeous - i love these sort of soups. i think i'll have to try it!

Chef Aimee said...

Your Mrs Pac Man comment made me giggle! This soup looks so delicious and a great way to start springtime eats!

Art and Appetite said...

Katrina, too bad I'm vegetaian! This does look appetizing! The flavors looks sooo well put!

Also, love the tulips--my favorite flowers of all time. In fact, I just came home from the Bellagio conservatory and they had lots of beautiful tulips around.

Glennis said...

That sounds delicious. We're roasting a chicken tonight, so maybe this will be on the menu later this week.

Are you in the PacNW, Mary? I have wonderful memories of visiting the bulb fields in the Skagit Valley when we lived there.

Julie said...

I'd love to amble around among all those tulips, just beautiful. The soup looks great.

sophia said...

Yucatan food is so good! I've only tried one dish...a sort of crepe with egg in it...but I loved it. This soup sounds so flavorful, what with the spritz of lime!

Sue said...

I have never been able to walk past a corn dog stand and not stop....blue cotton candy....not so much....it sounds like you had a great time...

Ren- Lady Of The Arts said...

The soup looks amazing. We love orzo and I don't use it nearly enough. The tulips look so pretty. I know what you mean about having a day of excess and just wanting something light.

3 hungry tummies said...

This is going to be our dinner tmr, thank you!

Rambling Tart said...

The tulips are GORGEOUS!!! It's tulip time here in Washington too, and I'm loving it! :-) This soup looks fantastic, Mary. :-)

sweetlife said...

oh we love orzo soups --your is wonderful and full of flavorI love the shot of the tulips--lovely

sweetlife

Carla and Michael said...

Beautiful dish and presentation. Another light soup hit for you. Another bookmark for me.

Diana's Cocina said...

This looks wonderful! The lime in this soup sounds refreshing. I love tulips, mine have already come and gone.

Deb in Hawaii said...

I think I may have clipped this soup to make years ago--it sounds so familiar and it looks wonderful too.
;-)

The Domestic Adventurer said...

Your soup looks really light and refreshing. It also sounds like you had a great day. Lovely photo of the tulips.

Katie said...

must make asap. the flavor profile sounds amazing & i love your photos!

Cindy said...

i made this soup--it is out of the world delicious. I had to blog about it--thanks for your inspiration.
http://cgharris.blogspot.com/2013/04/yucatan-style-chicken-lime-and-orzo-soup.html

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