This Sopa de Letras, or Alphabet Soup, is a classic Mexican dish that’s as fun as it is flavorful, making it a favorite for the whole family. It’s comforting, delicious and super easy to make. The best part? It comes together quickly, in one pot and with just a handful of fresh, wholesome ingredients.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS SOUP
Packed with Flavor: What makes my recipe a little different than other Sopa de Letras recipes is the addition of cumin and bay leaves. They give this classic soup a warm, earthy depth that elevates it beyond the traditional recipe.
Family-Friendly: Alphabet pasta makes it fun for kids, while the bold, flavorful broth appeals to adults.
Simple, Fresh Ingredients: Made with fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic, broth, pasta and a little seasoning – no need for store-bought sauces or additives.
Quick and Easy: Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s perfect for a busy weeknight or when you need a quick comfort meal.
INGREDIENTS
- Alphabet pasta – You can usually find this pasta in the area of the grocery store with the Hispanic food items. I like to use the La Moderna brand. They have other shapes, like stars, so use whatever shape you want. The alphabet pasta just makes it extra fun for kids.
- Chicken broth – The flavorful base of the soup. I recommend using a better quality brand since the broth is such a main part of the recipe. Swanson is the brand I usually use.
- Roma tomatoes – Naturally sweet and tangy, these tomatoes are the heart of the soup, creating a vibrant and flavorful tomato broth.
- Onion – Adds a subtle sweetness that balances the tanginess of the tomatoes.
- Garlic – You can use cloves or minced garlic. I always have a big jar of minced garlic in the refrigerator which makes it super convenient to use. No peeling or chopping needed, but if you don’t have any, you could use 2-3 cloves instead.
- Spices: Cumin, salt and bay leaf add extra flavor to the soup. The bay leaf and cumin are what make this recipe really stand out from other Sopa de Letras recipes.
- Limes – This is optional, but I highly recommend adding a big squeeze of fresh lime juice to your bowl of soup before enjoying it. It goes SO well with the rest of the flavors in this soup.
Optional Toppings:
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
- Queso fresco
- Hot sauce
- A drizzle of Mexican cream
- Sliced onions
- Shredded lettuce
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
In a blender, add the tomatoes, onion, garlic, cumin, salt and one cup of water. Blend until smooth and set aside.
Add olive oil to a medium-sized pot and heat over medium. Once warm, add the alphabet pasta and stir well, making sure it all gets coated with oil. Cook for about 2 minutes, or until pasta turns golden brown, stirring frequently to make sure the pasta doesn’t burn.
Carefully add the tomato mixture to the pot and stir. Cook for about 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture starts to darken a bit.
Add the broth, stir and turn the heat up. Bring to a boil.
Once boiling, turn heat down to low, add one bay leaf, and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and add more salt, if desired.
Ladle into a bowl and enjoy as is, or add your favorite toppings like a squeeze of fresh lime juice, hot sauce, chopped cilantro, queso fresco or a drizzle of Mexican crema.
TIPS & NOTES
Toast the Pasta: Don’t skip this step! Toasting the alphabet pasta in a bit of oil adds a nutty depth of flavor and helps the pasta hold its shape in the soup.
Add Some Spice: If you like a little kick, add a pinch of chili powder or a chopped jalapeño to the tomato mixture before blending.
Customize It: Add shredded chicken or cooked vegetables, like zucchini or carrots, to make the soup a complete and nutritious meal. Also, if you have the time, don’t be afraid to experiment with different toppings. My favorites are lime juice, cilantro and queso fresco.
Leftovers: The pasta will continue to absorb liquid as it sits, so you may need to add a bit more broth when reheating.
Sopa de Letras (Classic Mexican Alphabet Soup)
Simple and flavorful, this classic Mexican soup called Sopa de Letras, combines fresh ingredients like tomatoes, onion, and garlic for an easy, comforting, family-friendly soup.
Ingredients
For the Blender:
- 3 Roma tomatoes halved
- ½ white onion halved
- ½ tbsp minced garlic or 2-3 cloves
- ¼ tsp cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup water
For the Pot:
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 7 oz alphabet pasta
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 bay leaf
- fresh lime juice optional
Instructions
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In a blender, add the tomatoes, onion, garlic, cumin, salt and one cup of water. Blend until smooth.
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Add olive oil to a medium-sized pot and heat over medium. Once warm, add the alphabet pasta and stir well, making sure it all gets coated with oil. Cook for about 2 minutes, or until pasta turns golden brown, stirring frequently to ensure the pasta doesn't burn.
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Carefully add the tomato mixture to the pot and stir. Cook for about 3 minutes, or until mixture starts to darken a bit.
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Add the broth, stir and turn the heat up. Bring to a boil.
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Once boiling, turn heat down to low, add one bay leaf and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste to make sure pasta is done and add more salt, if desired.
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Ladle into a bowl and enjoy as is, or add your favorite toppings like a squeeze of fresh lime juice, hot sauce, chopped cilantro, queso fresco or a drizzle of Mexican crema.
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If you make this and have a quick second to scroll down and click the stars to rate the recipe, I would greatly appreciate it! Your rating helps my website so much, so thank you!
This was DELICIOUS! Easy to make and we all loved it, including my kids. We added some shredded rotisserie chicken and lime juice. Definitely making this again. Thank you for the recipe!
I’m so glad everyone liked it! Thanks so much for coming back to rate it. 🙂