Yucatan Lime Soup

Ingredients

• 1 chicken breast half, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus 1/4 teaspoon
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil, plus more if needed
• 8 corn tortillas, cut into 1-inch strips
• 3/4 cup finely chopped white onions
• 1 teaspoon Essence, recipe follows
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/2 cup seeded, chopped tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon minced Serrano chiles
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 lime, cut into thin slices, for decoration
• 1 avocado, seeded and diced, for topping
• 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme