Whenever I’m coming down with a cold, all I want is a caldo Tlalpeño. In this vegan caldo Tlalpeño recipe zucchini, potatoes carrots, and rice simmer in a chipotle vegetable broth. It is a comforting traditional home cooked meal.
Caldo Tlalpeño is one of my favorite comfort dishes. My mom, to this day, still makes a version of it whenever anyone one of us is sick. After moving to the U.S. I searched high and low for a restaurant that would serve a good caldo Tlalpeño, but none of them measured up. Until finally, duh, I realized that I should just make it at home. It is super easy to make and it’s another one of those dishes that kids love.
There’s a legend behind this special dish. It is said that Mexican president Santa Ana (you know, the one that signed away 1/4 of Mexico to the U.S.,) was very hung over after 3 nights of partying and was looking for a quick remedy. He happened to be in Tlalpan, the largest borough of Mexico City. The cook gave him a chicken soup and when the president asked what the name of the soup was, she said caldo Tlalpeño.
Homeschooling is going well so far. There has been a bit of whining and tears, but I already expected that. It’s actually kind of nice to not have to wake up at 6am and rush out the door to drop kids off at school. On the other hand, by 3 pm mommy is desperate for some alone time. Thank goodness for naps and TV!
I want to say a special thank you to all of you that took the time to respond to my email about the recipes you would like to see on the site. Apparently all of you really like chile rellenos and miss them terribly, so I will be working on that. If there’s any other dish you guys would like to see send me an email or respond to this post. I read every single one!
The Recipe: Vegan Caldo Tlalpeño
- You can add whatever veggies you like. Chayote would also go really well with this.
- When I make this for the kids I leave out the chipotle and add it as a condiment at the end for the adults.
- Baked tofu would be a good addition to this soup as a garnish.
Vegan Caldo Tlalpeño Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Diced, white onion
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 10 cups Vegetable Stock
- 2 sprigs Cilantro, fresh
- 1/4 cup Rice, long grain
- 1 cup Potatoes, diced
- 3/4 cup Carrots, diced
- 1 1/2 cups Zucchini, diced
- 1 cup Chickpeas, canned, drained
- 1 ea. Chipotle chile, adobo, chopped
- 1/2 Avocado, cut into cubes
- 1 Lime, cut onto quarters
Preparation
Heat a large pot to medium-low heat. Add 1/4 of water (or 1 tbsp. oil), add onions and sweat for 3-4 minutes until tender and translucent. Add garlic and let cook for 1 more minute
Pour in vegetable stock and cilantro sprigs in a large pot, and bring to a simmer.
- Add rice and simmer for 4 minutes.
- Add potatoes and simmer for 4 minutes.
- Add carrots and simmer for 4 minutes.
- Add chipotle in adobo and zucchini and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add chickpeas and simmer for 6-7 minutes or until all the vegetables and rice are tender.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Serve with avocado cubes and lime wedges.
Chef's Notes
To serve, garnish with avocado slices and a splash of lime juice. You can add baked tofu cubes to it for a more protein packed meal.
