This delicious recipe is really easy to make and you don’t need a lot of different ingredients for it. The name sopa de conchas means shell soup in English and that refers to the shell-shaped pasta in it. Small pasta shells are the best kind to use, or medium ones, just not those jumbo ones you would stuff.
Cozy, classic and comforting, this soup doesn’t take long to make and you’ll find the whole family enjoys the flavors. Along with ground beef, the recipe calls for chicken bouillon powder, onion, tomato, the pasta shells, and tomato paste.
Sometimes cilantro or epazote (a Mexican herb that’s usually only available from Mexican markets) goes into this soup and it also has different names such as sopa aguada or sopa de conchitas. This simple, family-friendly dish can be created in less than 45 minutes, so you might like to whip it up for dinner during the week.
Why You’ll Love the Recipe:
This easy and traditional Mexican soup recipe combines beef with chicken bouillon, pasta shells, tomato, and onion. It’s a tasty soup that’s often served as a first course in Latin America. It also makes a flavorful lunch or supper.
How to Serve It
Serve the soup hot, as soon as it’s ready. Since this soup has meat, pasta and vegetables, you don’t need a side dish unless you want one. Some tortillas or bread on the side would be good though.
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Can You Make It Ahead?
Yes, you can prepare it in advance and reheat it later.
Storage Instructions:
Leftovers will keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator and can be warmed back up in a pan on the stove.
Variations and Substitutions:
Feel free to swap the pasta shells for macaroni or another favorite small pasta shape. Not all grocery stores carry small shell pasta. You can also add chilies if you want a spicy soup or some finely chopped vegetables if you have some to use up.
This simple soup pairs sweet and savory flavors for a homestyle dish everyone will enjoy. It’s quick and easy to make.
Sopa De Conchas with Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 4 C. Water
- 1 lb. Ground beef
- 1 Tbsp. Caldo de pollo powder
- ½ Onion diced
- 1 Can diced tomato
- ½ lb. Small pasta shells
- 2 Tbsp. Tomato paste
Instructions
- Add the ground beef and onion to a skillet over medium high heat, and saute until the beef is browned and the onions have softened.
- Drain the excess grease.
- Place the shells into the skillet along with the caldo de pollo powder, water, diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Stir to combine.
- Cover and boil over medium high heat until the pasta is done to your liking.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.
- Enjoy!
