Mexican dried shrimp soup: Caldo de camaron seco Karen Hursh Graber

Dried shrimp soup is a Mexican cantina classic that has fueled many a "next round." Friday afternoons are an especially good time to find this beloved soup at your friendly neighborhood watering hole. ... read more

seafood soups

Mexican lentil vegetable soup with chia: Sopa de lentejas y verduras con chia Karen Hursh Graber

This soup is comforting, delicious, and incredibly healthy. What more could you ask for? Oh yes, you can ask for it not to be watery, and this one isn't, thanks to the inclusion of chia seeds. Ingredi... read more

vegetarian soups

Mexican quinoa vegetable soup: Sopa de quinoa y verduras Karen Hursh Graber

I like this Mexican quinoa vegetable soup with homemade chicken stock, but vegetable stock works well, too. The chopped cilantro, avocado and queso fresco garnishes should not be overlooked. Ingredien... read more

vegetables vegetarian soups

Yucatan style plantain soup: Sopa de platano yucateca Karen Hursh Graber

This delicious soup from the Yucatan uses half-ripe plantains, meaning green and yellow, not black and yellow. Use vegetable broth to make it vegetarian, if desired, and add more broth for a thinner Yu... read more

fruit soups Yucatán Peninsula

Mexican squash, corn and amaranth soup: Sopa de calabaza y elote con amaranto Karen Hursh Graber

This soup makes use of the zucchini squash and corn that abound in Mexican milpas and gardens north of the border in late summer. If fresh amaranth leaves are not available, use small, tender spinach l... read more

vegetables vegetarian soups rice-and-grains

Mexican Queretaro-style lentil soup with nopales: Sopa de lentejas con nopales estilo Queretaro Karen Hursh Graber

This recipe, adapted from Diana Kennedy's The Essential Cuisines of Mexico, contains the characteristically Mexican ingredients nopales, fresh green chiles and cilantro. Ingredients ½ cup brow... read more

vegetables vegetarian soups beans-and-legumes Querétaro

Mexican lentil soup with chorizo: Sopa de lentejas con chorizo Karen Hursh Graber

This was the first lentil soup I tasted in Mexico many years ago, and it seems to be the most popular version in the central region, where chorizo is used in everything from eggs to tacos. The addition... read more

meat soups beans-and-legumes

Meat and vegetable stew: Mole de olla de res Karen Hursh Graber

Ancho, pasilla and guajillo chiles give this stew its deep color and rich flavor. If using the Mexican field corn most often sold in the mercados, cook the corn with the meat. If using sweet corn, cook... read more

vegetables meat main-dishes soups

Sonora style beef stew: Guisado de res sonorense Karen Hursh Graber

Cooks in Sonora often cut the beef for this guisado into strips, so that it can be rolled into burritos once cooked. This way, the recipe yields a vegetable stew plus beef burritos. In Mexico, ground a... read more

vegetables meat main-dishes soups Sonora

Stewed beef shanks with vegetables: Guisado de chambarete Karen Hursh Graber

This is an easy and delicious one-pot meal that can be made ahead and reheated. For a less picante taste, remove the chipotle before blending the cooked ingredients. The weight given for the meat refle... read more

vegetables masa meat main-dishes soups

Mexican Spanish style beef and vegetable stew: Chambarete español Karen Hursh Graber

Although classified under "soups," this is really a stew, served as a main course. A reflection of the European heritage of Aguascalientes, it is similar to the Spanish caldo gallego, which is also m... read more

vegetables meat main-dishes soups Aguascalientes

Chayote soup with poblano chile: Sopa de chayote con chile poblano Karen Hursh Graber

This recipe is adapted from one taught at Susana Trilling's Seasons of My Heart cooking school, located in the beautiful Etla Valley of Oaxaca. The soup is refreshing cold, or may be served at room tem... read more

vegetables soups

Yucatecan lime soup: Sopa de lima Karen Hursh Graber

This specialty of the Yucatan, although it comes from a warm climate, is great winter comfort food. The variety of lime called Citrus Limetta grows in abundance in the Yucatan, although other varieties... read more

poultry soups Yucatán Peninsula

Mexican cold avocado soup: Sopa fria de aguacate Karen Hursh Graber

Originally from the tropical coastal state of Tabasco, where a chilled dish is always welcome, this soup is a perfect first course for a light summer meal, such as grilled chicken or fish. Try adding a tablespoon of sherry for a delicious, unusual twist. read more

vegetables soups Tabasco

Avocado soup with tequila: Sopa de aguacate con tequila Karen Hursh Graber

This cream of avocado soup uses tequila in place of the traditional sherry. It is a refreshing first course or, served with a salad, a light spring or summer lunch. The ingredients should be well-chilled before the soup is blended. read more

vegetables main-dishes vegetarian soups

Mexican gazpacho: Gazpacho a la mexicana Karen Hursh Graber

This is a great hot weather choice, since it calls for no cooking at all. Serve it with bolillos or crusty French bread. Ingredients ½ cup water, or more as necessary 1 ½ pounds ripe tom... read more

vegetables vegetarian soups

Mayan cold avocado soup with ginger: Sopa fria de aguacate con jenjibre Karen Hursh Graber

This recipe is adapted from one at the Mayan Beach Garden on the Costa Maya. Avocados should not be cut in advance of using, since they oxidize quickly, turning their beautiful yellow-green color into ... read more

vegetables soups

Mexican chilled shrimp soup: Sopa fria de camaron Karen Hursh Graber

Homemade shrimp stock is ideal, but an acceptable substitute is shrimp bouillon, sold in Mexico as caldo de camarón, made by Knorr. For those living outside Mexico, it is available to order on the Int... read more

seafood soups

Cold goat cheese soup: Sopa fria de queso de cabra Karen Hursh Graber

Use the best quality goat cheese you can find, and a tart, green apple. "Manzana granny smith" is popular and easy to find. Most of the Mexican apples sold in markets are grown in Chihuahua, but here i... read more

cheese vegetables soups

Cold watermelon and tomato soup: Sopa fria de sandia y jitomate Karen Hursh Graber

Tomatoes and watermelon are an unexpected combination here, and one that does not require you to go anywhere near the stove. A sprig of fresh mint (hierba buena) is a nice garnish. Ingredients ... read more

vegetables fruit vegetarian soups

Cream of walnut soup: Crema de nuez Karen Hursh Graber

Walnuts, used famously in the classic chiles en nogada, are grown in central Mexico. This soup is reminiscent of the nogada sauce and looks nice garnished with a sprinkling of chopped fresh parsley and... read more

vegetables soups

Squash vine soup with corn dumplings: Sopa de guias con chochoyones Karen Hursh Graber

In Oaxaca, it is a rainy season staple and has been since before the Conquest. The only addition after the Spaniards arrived was the lard in the corn dough for the dumplings. read more

vegetables masa vegetarian soups Oaxaca

Garbanzo soup with saffron: Garbanzos en amarillo Karen Hursh Graber

Garbanzos en amarillo, with chickpeas, orange sweet potatoes and saffron, is evocative of the hearty peasant dishes of central Spain. It is a traditional food for the Día de La Santa Cruz, celebrated throughout Mexico, and with particular fervor in Queretaro, on May 3. read more

main-dishes vegetarian soups beans Querétaro

Black Bean Soup with Orange Zest: Sopa de Invierno Karen Hursh Graber

I call this "winter soup" because to the hearty, filling base of black beans is added the bright taste of the oranges that make cold winter weather more bearable. Here in the mountains of Central Mexic... read more

fruit soups beans

Chicken Soup with Mint: Caldo de Pollo con Hierbabuena Karen Hursh Graber

While hierbabuena is primarily used for tea, it is perfectly delicious in chicken soup. The first time I tried it this way I was very skeptical indeed. A friend who grew up here in Puebla ran out to ... read more

vegetables poultry main-dishes soups