Sopa Azteca Mexican Soup (Printable)

Smoky tomato-chile broth over crispy tortillas with panela cheese, avocado, and cilantro.

# What you need:

→ Broth

01 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
02 - 1 medium white onion, chopped
03 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 4 ripe Roma tomatoes, chopped
05 - 2 dried pasilla chiles, stemmed and seeded
06 - 1 dried guajillo chile, stemmed and seeded
07 - 5 cups vegetable broth
08 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - 1 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Tortilla Strips

12 - 8 corn tortillas, cut into thin strips
13 - Vegetable oil for frying

→ Garnishes

14 - 1 ripe avocado, diced
15 - 5 ounces panela cheese, cubed or crumbled
16 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
17 - 1/2 cup crema or sour cream, optional
18 - 1 lime, cut into wedges

# Directions:

01 - Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent, approximately 3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute until fragrant.
02 - Add chopped Roma tomatoes to the pot and cook until softened, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
03 - While tomatoes cook, place dried pasilla and guajillo chiles in a dry skillet over medium heat. Toast for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn them.
04 - Transfer softened tomatoes, onions, garlic, and toasted chiles to a blender. Add 1 cup vegetable broth and blend until completely smooth.
05 - Return blended mixture to the pot. Add remaining 4 cups vegetable broth, dried oregano, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - While broth simmers, heat approximately 1 inch of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry tortilla strips in batches until golden and crisp, about 1 to 2 minutes per batch. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
07 - Divide crispy tortilla strips among serving bowls. Ladle hot broth over the strips. Top with panela cheese, diced avocado, fresh cilantro, and a drizzle of crema if desired. Serve immediately with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The tortilla strips stay crispy against the warm broth for those first magical bites, then soften into something silky by the time you reach the bottom of the bowl.
  • You control the heat and flavor by choosing which chiles to use, so it feels personal every time you make it.
  • Fresh avocado and cilantro brighten everything up, making it feel light despite being genuinely satisfying.
02 -
  • If you fry your tortillas too far in advance, they'll absorb moisture from the air and lose their crispness, so do this step just before serving even if it means stepping away from conversation.
  • Toasting the dried chiles is non-negotiable; it transforms them from flat and papery into something aromatic and alive, and it only takes a couple of minutes.
03 -
  • If your blender struggles with the chiles, soak them in warm water for five minutes before blending to soften them and make the process easier.
  • Taste the broth before serving and adjust the salt and lime juice; these two things are what separate good sopa azteca from extraordinary sopa azteca.
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