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Sopa de letras (Mexican alphabet soup)
12m+ · Toasted alphabet pasta in a light tomato and vegetable broth
Sopa de letras is the soup almost every Mexican child grows up on, served as the 'sopa aguada' course at the midday meal: tiny letter-shaped pasta, toasted golden in oil, then simmered in a broth of blended tomato, onion and garlic with soft diced carrot. For toddlers it is made with a no-salt vegetable stock, so the sweetness of the tomato comes through. It contains gluten (wheat); it has no milk, egg, nuts, soya, sesame or fish. Chef's tip: toast the pasta until it smells nutty and turns light gold; that is where the flavour comes from.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Baby & toddler safety
- Age: from 12 months+.
- Allergens: contains gluten (wheat, barley, rye or oats). Offer one new allergen at a time, in the morning, so you can watch for a reaction.
- Texture and choking: purée or mash smoothly for 6–9 months, then soft, finger-sized pieces that squash between your fingers. Cut round foods such as grapes and cherry tomatoes into quarters lengthways, never give whole nuts, and always stay with your child while they eat.
- Under 1: no honey, no added salt or stock cubes, and no added sugar.
Every child is different. If you are unsure, especially about allergies, check with your health visitor or paediatrician.
Ingredients
For the tomato base
- 2 ripe tomatoesabout 250 g, quartered
- ¼ onion
For the soup
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 ⅞ oz alphabet pasta
- 3 ¼ cups no-salt vegetable stock
- 1 carrotsmall, finely diced
- 1 ⅜ oz frozen peas (optional)
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Fresh ingredients (4)
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Blend 2 ripe tomatoes, ¼ onion and 1 garlic clove with a splash of water until completely smooth.
2 minStep 2: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a saucepan over a medium heat. Add 2 ⅞ oz alphabet pasta and stir constantly for 3–4 minutes, until most of the letters are light golden and smell toasty. Don't walk away: the common mistake is letting them go dark brown, which tastes bitter.
4 minStep 3: Pour in the tomato mixture carefully, as it will splutter, and stir for 2 minutes until it darkens slightly and thickens.
2 minStep 4: Add 3 ¼ cups no-salt vegetable stock, 1 carrot and 1 ⅜ oz frozen peas, if using. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10–12 minutes, until the pasta is very soft and the carrot squashes easily with a spoon.
12 minStep 5: The soup thickens as it stands; add a splash of water if needed. Ladle into a bowl and cool until warm before serving. Adults can season their own bowls with salt and lime.
Step 6: Cool leftovers quickly and keep covered in the fridge for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to a month (the pasta softens further). Reheat until piping hot, then cool before serving.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 120 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 20 g
- Fat
- 4 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does sopa de letras (Mexican alphabet soup) take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of ripe tomatoes?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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