Caldo Tlalpeño de Verduras (Smoky Chipotle Vegetable Soup)
A Mexico City style brothy soup of chickpeas and vegetables with smoky chipotle, finished with avocado, lime and crisp tostada pieces.
Made with Chipotle in adobo sauce (homemade) and Tostadas and totopos (tortilla chips) and Homemade vegetable stock. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time45 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.52 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
Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Cook the onion for 5 minutes until soft, then add the garlic and tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes until the tomatoes break down.
10 min - 2
Stir in your ready made chipotle in adobo sauce (see the base recipe) and cook for 1 minute.
- 3
Pour in your ready made vegetable stock (see the base recipe) and add the carrots. Simmer for 10 minutes.
10 min - 4
Add the courgette, green beans and chickpeas and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes more, until the vegetables are just tender.
9 min - 5
Season with salt and a squeeze of lime. Ladle into bowls.
- 6
Top each bowl with avocado, coriander and the broken tostadas, and serve with lime wedges.
Tips
- Caldo tlalpeño is usually made with chicken and a little epazote. This version keeps the chipotle and chickpeas, which are the heart of the dish.
- Add the tostada pieces at the table so they stay crisp. Or serve a bowl of totopos alongside.
- Start with less adobo sauce and add more, a spoonful at a time, if you like it hotter.
Storing and freezing
Keep the soup without the avocado and tostadas in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat until steaming hot all the way through. Add the toppings fresh each time.
Questions
Is caldo tlalpeño usually vegetarian?
No. The classic version uses chicken broth and shredded chicken, and often has a little queso fresco on top. This vegetable version keeps the same smoky chipotle character.
Can I add cheese?
Yes, crumbled queso fresco or feta is a classic topping. It makes the dish vegetarian rather than vegan.
How spicy is it?
Moderately. Chipotle gives smoky heat that builds, so start with half the sauce and taste before adding more.
More made with chipotle in adobo sauce (homemade)
Quesadillas de Atún con Chipotle (Tuna and Chipotle Quesadillas)
EFNFTacos de Salmon al Chipotle (Chipotle Salmon Tacos)
GFEFNFEnchiladas Ahumadas de Queso (Smoky Cheese Enchiladas)
EFNFChuletas de Cerdo con Queso Chipotle y Arroz Rojo (Pork Chops with Smoky Queso)
GFEFNFDouble 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.