Caldo Tlalpeno (Smoky Chicken and Chickpea Soup)
A light chicken broth with chickpeas, vegetables and avocado, given a warm smoky heat from chipotle.
Made with Chipotle in adobo sauce (homemade) and Mexican chicken stock (caldo de pollo). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time35 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £4.26 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 cook for 30 seconds.
5 min 30 s - 2
Pour in your ready made Mexican chicken stock (see the base recipe) and whisk in your ready made chipotle adobo sauce (see the base recipe) until it dissolves. Bring to the boil.
- 3
Add the carrots and chickpeas. Simmer for 8 minutes.
8 min - 4
Add the courgette and green beans and simmer for 5 minutes more, until all the vegetables are tender.
5 min - 5
Stir in the shredded chicken and heat for 3 minutes until steaming hot all the way through. Taste and add salt if needed.
3 min - 6
Ladle into bowls and top with avocado and coriander. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing.
Tips
- The soup should taste clearly smoky but not fiery. Start with 40 ml of chipotle sauce and add more once the soup is simmering.
- Use the shredded chicken left from making the caldo, as the stock recipe gives you plenty of cooked chicken meat.
- Traditionally Caldo Tlalpeno is finished with a little crumbled queso fresco and sometimes epazote. Add queso fresco only if dairy suits you.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 2 hours and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days, without the avocado. Freeze for up to 2 months and reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
What is Caldo Tlalpeno?
It is a classic Mexico City soup of chicken broth, chickpeas and vegetables, flavoured with chipotle. It is named after Tlalpan, a district of the city.
Can I make it vegan?
Yes. Use homemade or gluten free vegetable stock in place of the chicken stock and add an extra tin of chickpeas instead of chicken.
Can I serve it with rice?
Yes, a spoonful of plain white or Mexican red rice in each bowl is common and makes it more filling.
More made with chipotle in adobo sauce (homemade)
Pollo en Crema de Chipotle (Creamy Chipotle Chicken)
GFNFHuevos Ahogados en Salsa de Chipotle (Eggs Poached in Chipotle Tomato Sauce)
DFNFVCaldo Tlalpeno (Chicken, Chickpea and Chipotle Soup)
GFNFEFTostadas de Jamaica (Hibiscus Flower Tostadas with Chipotle)
GFDFEFDouble 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.