Menudo Rojo (Mexican Red Tripe Soup)
A traditional weekend soup of tender tripe and hominy in a red chilli broth, served with onion, oregano and lime.
Made with Pozole rojo base. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time4 hr
- LevelHard
- Costabout £6.65 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
Rinse the tripe well under cold water, then cut it into 3 cm pieces. Cover with cold water in a large pot, bring to a boil for 5 minutes, drain and rinse again.
- 2
Return the tripe to the pot with the beef foot if using, the water, onion halves and garlic. Cover and simmer for 2 hours until nearly tender.
120 min - 3
Stir in your ready made pozole rojo base (see the base recipe) and simmer for a further 1 hour 15 minutes, until the tripe is soft.
75 min - 4
Add the hominy and simmer for 20 minutes.
20 min - 5
Season with salt. Remove the onion halves and the foot bones.
- 6
Serve in deep bowls with chopped onion, oregano, chilli flakes and lime on the side.
Tips
- Buy tripe that has already been cleaned and blanched from a good butcher. Fresh tripe needs a lot of washing.
- Beef foot gives a silky, gelatinous broth. The soup is still good without it.
- Menudo is often eaten at weekends and on celebration mornings, with warm tortillas on the side.
Storing and freezing
Keeps in the fridge for 3 days. Freeze portions for up to 3 months and reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
What does tripe taste like?
It has a mild, slightly sweet beefy flavour and a soft, slightly chewy texture, like a tender noodle. The chilli broth does most of the work.
Where can I buy tripe in the UK?
Ask a good butcher, or look in Polish, Turkish and Caribbean shops. Honeycomb tripe is the best for menudo.
Is menudo gluten free?
Yes, with this base. Check that any bought tortillas you serve alongside are made from corn only.
More made with pozole rojo base
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.