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You are here: Home » Recipes » Mexican Soups

Mexican Menudo Soup

Published: Apr 28, 2010 · Updated: Feb 11, 2019 by Mely Martínez

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Have you ever wondered what people in other countries use as a remedy to cure a hangover? Well, besides the classic 2 aspirins and drinking a lot of water, in México some people swear this tasty and aromatic Menudo soup, with its distinctive spongy texture, will do the magic trick of bringing you back to life. I am not sure about that, but maybe the high content of vitamin B has something to do about it, besides its rich flavor.

Menudo Recipe | Menudo, Pancita o Mondongo

Best Menudo Recipe

Best Menudo RecipeThis soup is usually sold on weekends in small mom-and-pop kitchens called "Fondas", or in restaurants that specialize in Typical Mexican antojitos. The soup is called different names depending on the region. It is known as "pancita", Mondongo, or Menudo. In the northern states, some cooks add Hominy to make a robust pair with the meat. The recipe also varies from region to region. Other cooks will add Ancho Peppers in addition to the guajillo and even tomato.

Mexican tripe menudo soup recipe

It can be stored in the refrigerator for several days and freezes well, preserving its flavor.

How to make Menudo Recipe

JUMP TO FULL INSTRUCTIONS

Instructions:

Recipe for menudo

  • Simmer the cow feet and marrow bones in a large pot with 6 quarts of water, 5 garlic cloves, and onion for about 15 minutes at medium heat without covering. Add the tripe and oregano and cook for about 2 – 2 ½ hours approximately until tripe is tender but firm. You could also use a crockpot and set it on low for 6 hrs. To cook in the INSTANT POT, cook the meat for 40 minutes on the in the manual pressure cooker setting, then add the dried peppers sauce and cook for 10 more minutes in the manual setting.   (Please check the ingredients list below)
Mexican tripe menudo soup recipe
  • Remove the cow feet and marrow bones from the pot. Skim the fat that forms on top of the broth. Remove the bones and chop the meaty parts of to be returned to the pot.
Mexican tripe menudo soup recipe
  • While the meat is cooking, prepare the guajillo sauce. Toast the Guajillo peppers in a griddle over medium heat.
Mexican tripe menudo soup recipe
  • Place the roasted peppers in a bowl and cover with water. Let them soak for about 25 minutes until soft. After that, drain the peppers and place them in your blender with the rest of the garlic, ½ cup of the broth, and cumin if using. Blend until very smooth. Strain the sauce using a sieve and pour into the pot. Simmer the broth for another 30 minutes, partially covered. Taste to season with more salt if needed.
Menudo Mexican Recipe - 1

Serve the soup in large bowls and place the garnishes in a dish in order for everyone to add to their liking.

how to make menudo recipe

How do you make menudo

¡Buen Provecho!

Mely,

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📖 Recipe

Menudo Mexican recipe 5

Menudo Recipe

Mely Martínez
This tripe soup is usually sold on weekends in small mom-and-pop kitchens called "Fondas", or in restaurants that specialize in Typical Mexican antojitos. The tripe soup is called different names depending on the region. It is known as "pancita", Mondongo, or Menudo.
4.82 from 148 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 2 hours hrs
Total Time 2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Course Beef, Soups
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 8 servings
Calories 342 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the broth:

  • 3 pounds of clean tripe cut into small bite size pieces
  • 1 cow’s feet It’s usually sold already cut up in pieces
  • 1 pound marrow bones
  • 4 large garlic cloves
  • 1 medium onion cut into thick slices
  • 1 ½ teaspoon salt to taste
  • 2 teaspoons dry oregano

For the sauce:

  • 6 guajillo peppers cleaned seeded, open flat, and deveined
  • 1 teaspoon of freshly ground cumin optional
  • 3 garlic cloves

For the garnishing:

  • 1 Tbsp. Piquin peppers crushed to add when serving if you like hot food.
  • Lemons cut into wedges
  • Dry Mexican oregano
  • ¾ cup white onion chopped
  • To be eaten with warm corn tortillas.

Instructions
 

  • Simmer the cow feet and marrow bones in a large pot with 6 quarts of water, 4 garlic cloves and an onion for about 15 minutes at medium heat without covering. During this time, skim off the foam that forms. Add the tripe and oregano and cook for about 2 – 2 ½ hours approximately until tripe is tender but firm (make sure you do not overcook). For the INSTANT POT, cook for 30 minutes. For a Pressure cooker 45 minutes.  You could also use a slow cooker and set it in low for 6 hrs.
  • Remove the cow feet and marrow bones from the pot. Skim the fat that forms on top of the broth. Once the Cow foot cools a little, remove the bones and chop the meaty parts of to be returned to the pot.
  • While the meat is cooking, prepare the guajillo sauce. Toast the Guajillo peppers in a griddle over medium heat. Press them down with a spatula slightly toasting them without burning them.
  • Place the roasted peppers in a bowl and cover with water. Let them soak for about 25 minutes until soft. After that, drain the peppers and place them in your blender with 3 garlic cloves, ½ cup of the broth, and cumin if using. Blend until very smooth. Strain the sauce using a sieve and pour into the pot. Simmer the broth for another 30 minutes, partially covered. Taste to season with more salt if needed.
  • Serve the soup in large bowls and place the garnishes in a dish in order for everyone to add to their liking. Do not forget warm corn tortillas to soak in the broth.

Notes

Some people add Hominy to the soup. If you can buy Hominy in a can, drain it and add it to the soup in the final simmering.

Nutrition

Serving: 2cups per servingCalories: 342kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 32gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 210mgSodium: 608mgPotassium: 635mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1230IUVitamin C: 7.8mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 8.7mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

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  1. Sam

    February 09, 2023 at 12:11 am

    Just wondering if something is missing between step 4 and 5. I amy have misunderstood the process. Thanks

    Reply
    • Mely Martínez

      February 09, 2023 at 12:26 pm

      Hello Sam,
      Step 4 indicates making the sauce with the peppers & garlic using the blender, after that, you strain it and pour it into the Menudo pot to keep cooking.

      Reply
      • Crystal Overton

        July 09, 2023 at 11:26 pm

        Great recipe I really enjoyed. The recipe was very easy to follow.

  2. Julia

    February 05, 2023 at 6:02 pm

    I love menudo but I love with white hominy because that is how my mom use to make it she was from Colorado but my husband is from Mexico and he likes without thanks for sharing

    Reply
  3. Stella Chavez-Butler

    January 03, 2023 at 8:27 pm

    My gr always toasted her pasta before adding anything else to it.

    Reply
  4. tara

    December 17, 2022 at 2:00 pm

    5 stars
    great recipe

    Reply
  5. Tracie

    September 28, 2022 at 3:56 pm

    What are the instructions for crock pot version? Is it the same process

    Reply
    • Mely Martínez

      September 29, 2022 at 2:26 pm

      Hello Tracy.
      Yes, kind of the same process. You will need to cook it on low for about 6 hours or until the tripe is soft.

      Reply
  6. Maria Guevara

    August 14, 2022 at 9:17 am

    I grew up in south Texas, and I've always added hominy not potato, but like I say to each their own, my family likes it spicy..

    Reply
    • Mely Martínez

      August 15, 2022 at 2:01 pm

      Hello Maria,
      Yes, you are right! In South Texas as well as in the Mexican bordeing states, like Tamaulipas, Nuevo León & Coahuila, they also add hominy.
      Great idea adding potatoes!!

      Reply
  7. Dave Sanchez

    August 07, 2022 at 2:47 pm

    I’m making menudo for 17 people. How many does your recipe serve? And, when do I add the red chili powder?

    Reply
    • Mely Martínez

      August 08, 2022 at 7:14 pm

      Hello Dave,
      The recipe serves 8. By chile powder do you mean the crushed piquin pepper? That one is usually added by each person at the serving time if they want it spicy.

      Reply
      • Sandra Ramírez

        August 15, 2022 at 9:10 am

        5 stars
        Great recipe!

  8. Cathy Hoover

    May 26, 2022 at 6:24 pm

    I use this sauce, depending how hot you want it, you can use mild, med. or hot... It gives it such a nice taste! My Dad is Mexican and that's how he showed me how to make it, i grew up with it.. DELISH!..

    Reply
  9. Wendy

    April 20, 2022 at 10:40 pm

    5 stars
    Made this tonight for dinner. I put it in the slow cooker on low all day. Came out great except mine wasn't as red as the picture shows. Follow recipe to every ingredient. What went wrong?

    Reply
  10. Aida Valdes

    April 17, 2022 at 11:15 am

    5 stars
    I didn't see any instruction on cleaning the tripe. It has an awful smell if not cleaned. Maybe I missed it. I usually clean it by soaking and washing it in vinegar water and then rubbing a cut lemon all over it several times. I also half freeze it to make it easier to cut or I cut it with scissors.

    Reply
    • Mely Martínez

      April 18, 2022 at 9:28 am

      Hello Aida,
      I'm not sure where you buy your tripe. Here in the USA, most grocery stores that sell tripe, it is already cleaned without any odor left on it.
      I know in Mexico, if you buy it from the municipal markets it will need to be cleaned very well, rinse and soak in water with lime juice as you mention.
      Thank you for sharing the tip for cutting it with scissors.

      Reply
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About me

Hi, I'm Mely Martinez, a former Mexican school teacher, home cook, and food blogger. I moved to the United States about ten years ago, after living in Mexico my whole life. Now I love to share home-style recipes for authentic Mexican food.
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