Description
Hearty Mexican tamale soup elevates comfort food with irresistible tamale dumplings floating in a rich, spicy broth. Warm and satisfying flavors invite you to savor each spoonful of this soul-warming culinary experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Meat:
- 1 pound ground beef (or shredded cooked chicken)
- 4 cups beef broth (or chicken broth if using chicken)
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies (Rotel)
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 (15 oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz) can sweet corn, drained
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon oregano
Liquid and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup enchilada sauce (red or green)
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 cup masa harina
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon melted butter or lard
- ½ cup warm chicken broth (add more if needed)
- ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Garnishes:
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
- Sour cream
- Diced avocado
- Shredded cheese
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a capacious pot, creating a flavorful base for the hearty soup.
- Brown ground beef thoroughly, ensuring no pink remains, and eliminate any excess rendering.
- Incorporate aromatic onions and garlic, sautéing until translucent and fragrant.
- Infuse the mixture with a robust blend of spices: salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, paprika, and oregano.
- Pour in a medley of tomatoes, tomato sauce, rich beef broth, creamy pinto beans, sweet corn, and zesty enchilada sauce.
- Allow the concoction to gently simmer, melding flavors for approximately 15-20 minutes.
- Prepare the tamale dumpling base by whisking masa harina with baking powder and salt in a separate mixing vessel.
- Create a cohesive dumpling dough by introducing melted butter and warm broth, achieving a slightly tacky consistency.
- Optional: Fold in shredded cheese for additional richness.
- Reduce soup to a delicate simmer, creating the perfect poaching environment for dumplings.
- Carefully drop spoonfuls of masa dough into the simmering liquid, creating rustic dumplings.
- Cover the pot, allowing dumplings to steam and firm up for 15-20 minutes.
- Brighten the soup’s depth with a splash of fresh lime juice.
- Serve in generous bowls, garnishing with vibrant cilantro, creamy sour cream, buttery avocado, additional cheese, and tangy lime wedges.
Notes
- Consider using lean ground beef or ground turkey to reduce fat content while maintaining rich flavor.
- Swap pinto beans with black beans or kidney beans for varied nutritional profiles and taste preferences.
- Gluten-free adaptation requires using gluten-free masa harina and checking broth ingredients for hidden gluten.
- Vegetarian version works by replacing beef with plant-based crumbles or additional beans, ensuring protein balance.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg