Sopa Azteca Mexican Soup (Print Version)

Smoky tomato-chile broth with crispy tortillas, panela cheese, and avocado

# What You'll Need:

→ Broth

01 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
02 - 1 medium white onion, chopped
03 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 4 ripe Roma tomatoes, chopped
05 - 2 dried pasilla chiles, stemmed and seeded
06 - 1 dried guajillo chile, stemmed and seeded
07 - 5 cups vegetable broth
08 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - 1 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Tortilla Strips

12 - 8 corn tortillas, cut into thin strips
13 - Vegetable oil for frying

→ Garnishes

14 - 1 ripe avocado, diced
15 - 5 ounces panela cheese, cubed or crumbled
16 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
17 - 1/2 cup crema or sour cream, optional
18 - 1 lime, cut into wedges

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent, approximately 3 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute until fragrant.
02 - Add chopped Roma tomatoes to the pot and cook until softened, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
03 - While tomatoes cook, toast the dried pasilla and guajillo chiles in a dry skillet over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant. Avoid burning the chiles.
04 - Transfer softened tomatoes, onions, garlic, and toasted chiles to a blender. Add 1 cup of vegetable broth and blend until smooth consistency is achieved.
05 - Return blended mixture to the pot. Add remaining 4 cups broth, oregano, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
06 - While broth simmers, heat approximately 1 inch of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry tortilla strips in batches until golden and crisp, about 1 to 2 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels.
07 - Divide crispy tortilla strips among serving bowls. Ladle hot broth over the strips. Top with panela cheese, avocado, cilantro, and a drizzle of crema. Serve immediately with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between the crispy tortilla strips and the velvety broth creates a textural dance that keeps every spoonful exciting.
  • You can customize toppings to suit everyones preferences, making it perfect for both casual weeknights and when entertaining guests who have varying tastes.
02 -
  • The first time I made this soup, I skipped toasting the dried chiles and ended up with a flat-tasting broth missing that crucial depth of flavor.
  • After many attempts, I discovered that adding the tortilla strips to each individual bowl rather than directly to the pot maintains their satisfying crunch instead of turning them soggy.
03 -
  • If youre short on time, fire-roast your tomatoes under the broiler instead of cooking them in the pot for an instant boost of smoky depth that mimics traditional preparation.
  • For the absolute best texture, fry your tortilla strips in small batches at a slightly lower temperature than you might think, allowing them to develop a more sturdy crunch that stands up to the hot broth longer.
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