Caldo Tlalpeno con Pollo y Garbanzos (Chicken, Chickpea and Chipotle Soup)
A warming Mexico City style chicken soup with chickpeas, vegetables and a smoky chipotle kick, finished with avocado and lime.
Made with Chipotle tinga sauce and Mexican chicken stock (caldo de pollo) and Shredded chicken (pollo deshebrado). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time35 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £4.54 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Put your ready made Mexican chicken stock (see the base recipe) in a large pan and bring to a simmer.
- 2
Add the carrots and simmer for 6 minutes. Add the green beans and chickpeas and simmer for 5 minutes more until all the vegetables are tender.
11 min - 3
Stir in your ready made chipotle tinga sauce (see the base recipe) and your shredded chicken (see the base recipe). Simmer for 5 minutes until the chicken is steaming hot all the way through.
5 min - 4
Taste and add more tinga sauce for heat or a pinch of salt.
- 5
Ladle into deep bowls. Add the avocado, queso fresco and coriander to each bowl and squeeze over lime. Serve hot.
Tips
- Add the tinga sauce a little at a time. It colours and flavours the broth, but too much makes it thick and heavy.
- Keep the avocado raw and add it at the table. It turns grey and mushy if heated.
- Cut all the vegetables the same size for even cooking.
Storing and freezing
Cool quickly and keep the soup without avocado in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
What is caldo tlalpeno?
Caldo tlalpeno is a chicken and chickpea soup from the Tlalpan area of Mexico City, flavoured with chipotle and served with avocado, lime and cheese. It is a popular comfort dish.
Can I use tinned chickpeas?
Yes, tinned chickpeas are fine. Drain and rinse them first. Dried ones need soaking overnight and 1 hour of simmering.
Is it gluten and dairy free?
It is gluten free if your stock and chipotles are. For dairy free, leave out the queso fresco and add extra avocado and lime.
More made with chipotle tinga sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.