Mexican Soup Recipes: 8 Easy Mexican Soups to Try at Home

Mexican soup is any kind of soup that originated in Mexico. As with many other types of cuisine, these soups are now popular far beyond the borders of their country of origin. You can usually expect Mexican soups to be flavorful and spicy.

The zesty flavors of Mexican soups rely on a panoply of tasty ingredients. Here are eight you can expect to see in various Mexican soup recipes:

1. 1. Beans: As with so many other Mexican dishes, both black and pinto beans figure prominently in certain soups from the country. Some, like black bean soup, even use them as the central ingredient.
2. 2. Broth: When Mexican soups forgo a creamy texture for something more watery, broth is usually the go-to alternative. Whether you use beef, pork, or chicken broth depends on the specific soup, as well as its meat base.
3. 3. Corn: You can use corn for a variety of versatile purposes in Mexican soups. For instance, it serves as the foundation for both pozole, a hominy corn soup, and the tortilla chips in chicken tortilla soup.
4. 4. Herbs and spices: Cayenne, black pepper, diced fresh cilantro, ground cumin, oregano, and garlic cloves are all herbs and spices that can zest up and garnish Mexican cuisine in general—but soups in particular.
5. 5. Lime juice: Mexican food can benefit from a bit of sourness, such as a spritz of lime juice, to counterbalance its more savory and spicy flavors. This is as much the case with Mexican soups as it is with guacamole or salsa.
6. 6. Meat: While there are plenty of vegetarian Mexican dishes, there are many recipes in which meat serves as the cornerstone of the meal—think chicken enchiladas, carne asada tacos, and the like. The same goes for soups.
7. 7. Peppers: Poblano, chipotle, green chile, and bell peppers all make appearances in certain Mexican soup dishes. Spicy chili powder and jalapeños might make both your eyes and your mouth water.
8. 8. Veggies: Corn is a popular Mexican ingredient, but there are many more vegetables that cooks use in Mexican cuisine. A Mexican vegetable soup might include radishes, zucchini, or other veggies as ingredients.

Fire up your slow cooker or stovetop to try making these eight authentic Mexican soups:

1. 1. Albóndigas soup: If you’re eager to try a Mexican take on meatball soup, look no further than sopa de albóndigas. Get ready for a major infusion of flavor with this albóndigas soup recipe, featuring spicy peppers, beef, and plenty of veggies.
2. 2. Birria: Although this soup centers on goat meat in its more traditional form, you can substitute in beef or lamb. While it might take a total time of five hours to slow cook this Mexican beef soup, this birria de res recipe can be worth your time if you enjoy soups where the flavors have had a long time to meld.
3. 3. Caldo de pollo: Translated to mean “chicken broth,” caldo de pollo is a Mexican chicken soup notable for its savory and sour taste. You can use boneless and skinless chicken breasts to speed up the cooking process. Combine the chicken, water, and veggies in a Dutch oven at medium-high heat for this caldo de pollo recipe.
4. 4. Caldo de res: This “beef broth” soup should take a little over two hours of cook time to make. Drizzle olive oil into a pan and sear your beef before adding it to the juicy potatoes and other vegetables. Learn how to make caldo de res.
5. 5. Chicken tortilla soup: By mixing corn tortilla strips, shredded chicken, and other ingredients, you can create a tasty taco soup. Add some sour cream on the side to complete the experience. Learn how to make corn tortillas for this soup and for other old or new recipes.
6. 6. Menudo: This tripe-centered entrée pairs cow stomach with beef broth, guajillo chiles, and an array of spices. Try cooking this simple Mexican menudo recipe that calls for only about twenty minutes of prep time.
7. 7. Pozole rojo: Also spelled “posole,” this spicy soup prominently features hominy (dried maize kernels) and red chili peppers. It’s common during the holiday season. Learn how to make pozole rojo.
8. 8. Sopa de fideo: Like a hybrid of noodle soup and tomato soup, sopa de fideo is a flavorful Mexican dish that qualifies as comfort food. You can make authentic sopa de fideo in under an hour.

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