Chicken tortilla soup is a winning recipe that you can serve at a dinner party or take to a potluck with equal success. You can prepare chicken tortilla soup in many ways, so it's sure to please almost any palate. To make a dinner with even better, serve it with sides and dishes that complement it.
A Little Bit of This, a Little Bit of That
Serve each bowl of chicken tortilla soup with a small plate of optional ingredients for the soup. This is widely done in both Mexican and Asian restaurants when soup is served and is a sure way to please guests, regardless of individual preferences.
Place a portion of cilantro, avocado slices, shredded cheese and slices of lime on the plates. Cilantro always tastes best when it is added to the soup immediately after serving, and not everyone will want avocado, cheese or lime in their soup. The side plate allows everyone to prepare their soup the way they like it best. You may want to add strips of freshly fried tortilla strips as well, both to serve as a garnish and for those who enjoy them in their soup.
Entrees
As well as standing on its own, tortilla soup can complement any Mexican-themed dinner. Choose your entree with the richness of the chicken tortilla soup in mind. Some people make chicken tortilla soup with sour cream and a liberal amount of cheese, resulting in a rich dish. Other versions of soup rely primarily on the broth and are much lighter.
If your chicken is rich, choose a lighter entree, such as taco salad or chicken fajitas. If not, effective main dishes to accompany the soup are creamy chicken enchiladas, cheesy quesadillas or chimichangas.
Beverages and Dessert
Beer pairs well with tortilla soup. Consider serving a light Mexican beer, such as Corona or Dos Equis. For those wanting the sophistication of wine, try a Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Grigio. These go well with chicken and have a flavor that does not compete with those typically found in Mexican food.
A non-alcoholic drink to serve with tortilla soup is limeade or agua fresca, which is water flavored with the fruit of your choice and sweetened to taste with sugar. Try the pineapple ginger drink listed in the resource section to give your dinner an unusually tasty touch.
For dessert, go light with a lime or pineapple ice. You can find a simple recipe in the resource section. Even simpler and equally delicious, serve a plate of fresh fruit--since this is commonly done in Mexico, it will lend your dinner an authentic flair.
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