This post is also available in Spanish
Mondongo Colombiano, which is pork, tripe and chorizo soup, is served in every traditional Colombian restaurant. It is a hearty soup and a signature dish in every home in the Andean zone of Colombia. My grandmother used to make the best Mondongo I’ve ever had!
To make Colombian Mondongo, a variety of meats and vegetables are cooked together until everything in the pot is fork tender. Tripe is the main meat in the dish and it is balanced with lean pork and pieces of chorizo, which are used for rich flavor. Mondongo is a complete meal, accompanied by white rice, avocado, banana and drizzled with lime juice.
Traditionally, the tripe is cooked in a pressure cooker, which cooks the tripe faster, in about 45 minutes. If you don’t have one, simmer for a couple of hours in a normal pot.
Buen Provecho!
Ingredients
(6- 8 Servings)
- 1 pound beef tripe (mondongo), cut into small pieces
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 pounds pork meat, cut into small pieces
- 3 Colombian chorizos, sliced (optional)
- 1 tomato, chopped
- 2 scallions, chopped
- 1/4 cup white onion, chopped
- 4 small potatoes, diced
- 1 pound yuca, diced
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon achiote
- 1/3 cup fresh cilantro
- 1 garlic clove, chopped
- water
Directions
- Wash the tripe with warm water and rub with lime juice. In a large pot combine the tripe, baking soda, and enough water to cover the tripe by 2 inches.
- Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook until the tripe is very tender, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours or 45 minutes if using a pressure cooker. Drain the tripe and discard the water.
- In a large pot, place the cooked tripe, pork meat, chorizos, tomato, scallions, onion, garlic, cumin and achiote. Add enough water to cover.
- Bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to low and simmer slowly. For about 45 minutes. Add the yuca, cilantro and potatoes. Cook for 30 minutes more.
- Ladle into bowls, and garnish with additional fresh cilantro and lime wedges. Serve with white rice, avocado, banana and hot sauce(ají) on the side.
Belinda @zomppa says
Oh, I LOVE mondongo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the recipe!!!!!!
Anonymous says
I’m going to try this recipe on Saturday. Glad I looked it up.
Tangled Noodle says
Although I’ve never had this dish, I know I would love it! It reminds me of some of my tripe dishes. When you buy your tripe, do you have to ‘clean’ it or prepare it in any other way before actually cooking it?
Erica says
Tangled Noodle- You have to wash it with warm water and I rub lime juice all over the tripe.
norma says
Erica, I rememeber going out on a Friday night and then eating mondongo on saturday to give you energy from the night before. We used to call it “levanta muertos”…..Wish I had a plate right now!
anncoo says
Love the colors, looks so delicious! We used to have tripe in stew Chinese cooking.
Mariana @ History of Greek Food says
There are many ways to enjoy tripe in Greece and one of them is patsa, a tripe soup which is the perfect hangover fix. There are many patsa restaurants serving it from the night to the morning (never during the day) and they have big signs on the windows that announce WE SERVE PATSA.
Your version sounds utterly delicious… I would like very much to try it.
Sarah Naveen says
New recipe..looks so yummy!!
Joan Nova says
Tripe is not for everyone…but for me, si, sí, sí! I love mondongo and yours looks delicious. Great photos with this one too.
Erica says
Joan- You are right…tripe is not for everyone!!!! Thank you!
Barbara says
I’ve never had mondongo, but I’d love to try it. Your soup has a marvelous combination of flavors.
rebecca subbiah says
great soup tripe is common in NW England never tried it though texture put me of!
Baking is my Zen says
My dear, tripe is not for this chick either. But, the soup without it must be good.
Sandra G. says
Erica I Make Mondongo The Dominican And Peruvian way, Now I’m Going to try The Colombian Way, It Looks Delicious!
Erica says
Thank you guys for visiting and for your comments!
ruth says
Thats it! Cant take it anymore, either I go to your house for dinner or to Colombia on my next holiday! These recipes are incredible! Love chorizo, love tripe, just so drooling here!!
grace says
tripe scares me a little bit, but my love for chorizo can overpower it. great soup!
Faith says
I’ve never had tripe but my hubby loves it. I should make this for him!
Tangled Noodle says
Thank you for the tip, Erica! (And correction on my original comment: I meant to say “my FAVORITE tripe dishes” – I’ve never made any before but want to!)
Juliana says
Oh! I love tripes, but my husband will not go for it…your dish looks delicious, so so tasty 🙂
tasteofbeirut says
sounds delicious Erica! I have not used tripe yet, but have heard how good it tastes many times from Mexican friends!
Bo says
Erica…this looks great…but I just cannot eat tripe…it gives me the creeps…lol
Erica says
Thank you everyone!
Chris says
Alexis would divorce me if I tried to bring tripe into the house. Bad memories from her childhood, ha ha.
Kim says
I’ve never had tripe before, but would love to try it if someone prepared it for me this way, as you’ve done here.
Oysterculture says
Now I have to get my hands on some tripe – your soups are always amazing and this one looks as delicious as all the rest.
Maria says
Yes, not everyone will go for tripe but I will! I’ve always enjoyed it the “Greek” way though so this looks so different in flavor and fantastic! I’ve heard of the Dominican version but have never gotten to taste that either … will have to try Mondongo soon!
Amanda says
This looks absolutely delicious! I will make this. Now, one of the garnishes you mentioned banana. Is that just a regular banana, peeled on the side with the avocado and lime?
Erica says
Amanda- Yes, a regular banana.
Edgar La Rotta says
Hi, we have a dish in colombia Norte de Santander and Santander States (Cúcuta and Bucaramanga) called MUTE, with mondongo (Tripe), but i don´t know if “Tripe” is the internal piece of cow stomach, or intestine??? i need to know. Thanks
michelle says
i love your site because my husband is colombian and all his family is in colombia, and i can learn how to make colombian food from you, Right now i am making mondongo soup, for the first time, my husband said he loves this soup, so we will see how it goes, ill write back and tell you if he and our children like it. thankyou very much
Mike says
I’ve eaten tripe in many ways. I’m Puerto Rican so we eat our fair share of mondongo. When I went to Medellin, Colombia I loved the way they served their mondongo. Rice, avocado, lime and don’t forget the arepas. Simply delicious. Dios bendiga Colombia!!!!
Ashley says
I am so excited to find your blog! My fiance is paisa and I have learned to cook a lot of his dishes. Mondongo is one of his favorites. Looking forward to reading your recipes!
Andrea says
Erica,
I’m making Mondongo tonight and the smell is DELICIOUS!!! My husband is coming home from a long trip and I’m surprising him with this amazing soup.
Thanks for sharing. Love your website!
Jessica says
I completely adore you and thoroughly enjoy your recipes! My parents are Colombian and I love keeping in touch with my roots.
lia liyelcy sanchez herandez says
Que bueno me quedo el mio….!
Ana Frye says
I’m so excited!! its been at least 13 yrs since i last had mondongo!! looking forward to making this at home and my husband trying out one of my favorite foods of my childhood! Thank you Erica!!
Question:
I dont eat pork at all (allergic), what other type of meat can i use in substitution?
Monica says
Erika,
Thank you for your recipes. I just made the Arriz con Pollo & it was delicious. My father was from Barranquilla & his family from Cartagena & Bogota. He passed & I didn’t get all the family recipes. From what I’ve tried, your recipes are Authentic In flavor.
I plan to make the Mondongo soon. Just want to know where I can find Colombian Chorizo? I have never seen it. Thank you & may God bless you.
Erica Dinho says
Hi Monica,
I find Colombian chorizo at my local Latin market.
Monica says
Erica,
Thank you. I will look for it. Can’t wait to make it. ☺️
Mags says
Can’t help by notice that the recipe does not contain SALT. Is this a typo?
Erica Dinho says
Add salt to your taste.
Dawn says
I am planning on trying this recipe this weekend – how do you use the achiote? Is this just the seeds, or the paste? I know of a Columbian market I am goign to go to and hope I can find it. Thank You – My boyfreind is from Columbia and I have made several of your recipes (so far he has been pretty happy having a taste of home) He mentioned this soup last week and I knew I would find the recipe here and so I am going to give it a try – thanks again
Erica Dinho says
I use the achiote powder.
WS says
Best recipes!!! My husband is Colombian and this site helps me a lot in preparing delicious meals ❤️
Luz says
Gracias ESPERO me salga bien