THE BEST MEXICAN CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS SOUP | SOPA DE POLLO y CHOCHOYOTES

chicken

🥗Healthier: turkey

💰Cheaper: canned chicken

Turkey is leaner, while canned chicken is budget-friendly.

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil is healthier, and margarine is often less expensive.

flour

🥗Healthier: whole wheat flour

💰Cheaper: all-purpose flour

Whole wheat flour adds fiber, while all-purpose is more common.

jalapeño

🥗Healthier: bell pepper

💰Cheaper: banana pepper

Bell peppers provide flavor without heat, and banana peppers are often cheaper.

In a small bowl, mix instant corn flour with 1 teaspoon of salt.

Add 5 teaspoons of lard to the corn flour and mix with hands until it resembles sand.

Add a handful of chopped cilantro and mix.

Gradually add about 3/4 cup of warm water and mix until the dough is soft.

Knead the dough for 5 minutes until it doesn't stick to your hands.

Roll small balls of the dough and press them down with your knuckle, ensuring they don't crack on the sides.

Cover the dumplings with a clean kitchen towel and set aside.

Pat dry the chicken breasts and season both sides with salt and black pepper.

Place a spice mix in a tea bag or cheesecloth and close it.

Heat a Dutch oven on medium-high heat and add olive oil.

Sear the chicken for 4 minutes on each side, then remove from the pot.

Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in the pot and scrape the bottom.

Add chopped onion, celery, and carrots; cook for 3 minutes.

Add minced garlic and cook for a few seconds.

Add water, chicken, and the spice tea bag, then bring to a boil.

Once boiling, return the chicken to the pot along with fresh thyme, and reduce heat to medium, cooking for 20 minutes.

Remove the chicken and tea bag from the broth after 20 minutes, squeezing the tea bag to extract flavor.

Reduce heat to low and add the masa dumplings, cooking for 20 minutes.

After 10 minutes, shred the chicken and add it back to the pot along with frozen peas.

Mix and wait for the soup to come to a simmer.

Taste the broth for salt and adjust if necessary.

Once simmering, the soup is ready to serve.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens