Mexican Campbell’s Soup

A couple of days ago, I wasn’t feeling too great, and I wanted soup. Granted, it was probably 90 degrees outside, and we didn’t have much groceries in the house, and I didn’t feel like going anywhere, but I wanted soup! So Justin said, “How about sopa?”

Mmmmm…sopa. Justin’s parents made us this dish once when we went to visit them in Lubbock, and we loved it. I guess every Mexican-American household has their own version of sopa, using vermicelli (fideo), elbow macaroni (coditos), or even shell pasta (conchas). This is as close as I could get to Justin’s parents’ sopa. We add whatever vegetables we have–always onions and tomatoes, then maybe zucchini or yellow squash, broccoli or bell pepper, or a mixture of them all.

Sopa de Conchas

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 small package Mexican shell-shaped pasta (about 1 1/2 cups)
  • 1/2 small onion, chopped
  • 2 cups broccoli florets, sliced yellow squash or zucchini, and/or chopped bell pepper
  • 2 Roma tomatoes, chopped
  • 3 cans vegetable broth
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Colby-jack cheese, grated or cut into chunks, for topping

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add shell pasta, and cook, stirring frequently, until lightly browned.

Meanwhile, heat remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a large soup pot. Add onion and vegetables, and saute briefly until crisp-tender. Add tomatoes, browned pasta, broth, and black pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 10 to 15 minutes or until pasta is tender. Ladle into soup bowls and top with cheese.

Makes 4 large servings.

Source: Justin’s parents

3 responses to “Mexican Campbell’s Soup”

  1. What a wonderful looking dish. Your site is simply glorious and now I must blogroll you so that I can return often to drool over your posts.

  2. Has to be my fav dish as the ultimate default meal. Never fail food. And the browner the pasta the better… for me. It just gives it a better taste in my opinion. Plus, I like how the pasta smells when the browning is just beginning. Add tortillas and refried beans and I am in heaven!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *