My mom made me all sorts of sopas when I was growing up in Medellín and soups made with pasta were on our table once a week. This simple Sopa de Letras con Pollo was one of my favorite soups growing up. I love to make this soup especially during the fall and winter months or on a cool, rainy day. The alphabet shaped pasta, rather than regular pasta, is a fun addition for both kids and adults!
I find that I love Alphabet and Chicken Soup best when I’m sick and looking for something simple and satisfying, and this Sopa de Letras con Pollo always does the trick. I like to top it with avocado, fresh cilantro and red onion, for a bit of cream and crunch. But honestly, this soup is equally fine on its own.
So the next time you feel like a good, comforting bowl of chicken soup, whether you’re feeling under the weather or perfectly healthy, make this Sopa de Letras con Pollo!
Buen provecho!
Ingredients
(4 to 6 servings)
- 3 chicken breasts with bone
- 1 cup of aliños sauce (see recipe here)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground achiote or sazón with color
- 7 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 1 cup peas, fresh or frozen
- 3/4 cup alphabet shaped pasta, uncooked
- 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Place the chicken in a medium pot and add the cumin, achiote, chicken broth, salt, pepper and aliños. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Cook for about 30 minutes, until chicken is cooked and tender.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and take the meat off the bone. Discard the bones and set the meat aside.
- Add the carrots, peas, pasta and cilantro to the soup. Cook for about 8 minutes more. Return the chicken to the pot and serve hot.
grace says
this is a childhood favorite made much more adult-friendly!
Marisa Kirksey says
Erica Erica erica. . . You always go above and beyond. I did the sudadu de cerdo tonight. Sooo good . Couldn’t decide if I liked it with chicken or pork chops better. And the pork chops were so tender. All 5 of my children (2,4,5,9,10) all wanted more and more. Then of course I had to pack some for my Colombian Suegra. She loves that I make Colombian food and I love to make it. THANK YOU. U have serious inspired so much of my cooking for over a year now. Esp soups and stuff. So good and easy. I use my rice cooker so much it broke last night. 🙂 Will try this recipe this weekend. Thank you my long lost Colombian amiga.
Erica Dinho says
Thanks,Marisa! 🙂
Felix says
tanks for sharing