Sopa De Estrellas (Star-Shaped Pasta Soup)
What’s not to love about a bowl of homemade soup, and this Sopa de Estrellas recipe fits the bill. This comforting bowl of delicious soup is an easy recipe to make, and it pairs perfectly with sandwiches.
What Is Sopa De Estrellas?
In short, Sopa de Estrellas is a tomato-based Mexican soup that’s made with star-shaped pasta. You can find star-shaped pasta in the Mexican aisle at your neighborhood grocery store.
Sopa de Estrellas is made the same way Sopa de Fideo is made. However, Sopa de Fideo is made with a thin Mexican noodle that resembles angel hair pasta. Nevertheless, you can make Sopa de Estrellas with several different types of pasta.
Typically, Sopa de Estrellas is made with chicken or tomato bouillon cubes or granulated powder. Both ingredients contain tons of MSG. Therefore, this recipe does not use bouillon cubes or granulated powder. It gets all of its flavor from fresh tomatoes and vegetable broth.
Ingredients
Sopa de Estrellas is such a simple recipe that it only consists of 8 ingredients.
Olive Oil: The oil helps the star-shaped pasta turn a golden-brown color.
Tomato: The tomato adds an acidic yet sweet bite to the soup. If you cannot find fresh tomatoes, use 1 14 oz. can of tomato sauce along with 8 cups of chicken or vegetable broth.
Shallots: Shallots add a delicate, sweet, yet slightly sharp flavor to the broth.
Garlic: Garlic adds a potent flavor that pairs perfectly with tomato sauce.
Cumin: Although it seems strange, cumin adds a warm, nutty flavor to the Sopa de Estrellas.
Chicken Broth: You can use either chicken or vegetable broth. However, using chicken broth adds more depth of flavor to the soup.
Tomato Sauce: Tomato sauce builds upon the flavor of the fresh tomatoes.
Stars Pasta: The star-shaped pasta is obviously the star of the soup.
How to Make Sopa de Estrellas
First heat olive oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. Then add the star-shaped pasta and shallots. Cook for 3-4 minutes while constantly stirring until golden brown.
Next, add the garlic and cumin. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Afterward, stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and chicken broth.
Bring the soup to a boil then decrease to medium-low and cook for 8-12 minutes until pasta is al dente.
If the soup becomes too thick, add 2-3 cups of water to thin it out. Serve and enjoy!
Tips For Making Sopa de Estrellas
When making Sopa de Estrellas, you must toast the pasta first. While you are toasting the pasta, stir it constantly. Do not walk away from the stove. It only takes a second for your pasta to burn. The goal is to wait for the pasta to turn a golden color before moving on to the next step.
Sopa de Estrellas loves to absorb water, so use more water if you want a thicker soup. Once you add the broth to the soup, you will notice it thickens slightly. Less free water will be available as the star-shaped pasta soaks up the water. Free starch molecules will be dispensed from the pasta’s surface and hydrate. These starches will increase the viscosity of the Sopa de Estrellas broth.
How To Make Vegan Sopa de Estrellas
To make vegan Sopa de Estrellas, all you have to do is change the broth. Simply substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth. You can use better than bouillon cubes if you do not have vegetable broth. Make sure you dissolve the bouillon cubes in 2 1/2-3 cups of water. The star-shaped pasta is usually vegan. However, read the ingredients to make sure it is vegan.
How To Make Gluten-Free Sopa de Estrellas
It is very easy to make this Sopa de Estrellas recipe gluten-free. Simply purchase gluten-free star-shaped pasta from your local grocery store. You can also purchase gluten-free star-shaped pasta online. If you cannot find gluten-free star-shaped pasta, substitute it with a similar shaped gluten-free pasta.
Can I Freeze Sopa De Estrellas?
Of course, you can freeze Sopa de Estrellas. Place the Sopa de Estrellas into single-size freezer-safe containers. Once you are craving Sopa de Estrellas, place the soup into the fridge to thaw overnight. Place the Sopa de Estrellas into a saucepan and heat it over medium-low heat until it has a temperature of 165ºF.
How To Make Sopa De Estrellas In An Instant Pot
If you do not have much time on your hands, you can easily make Sopa de Estrellas in an instant pot. Simply blend the tomatoes, garlic, shallots, and a little chicken broth in a blender until smooth. Add the star-shaped pasta into a pot and cook for 3-4 minutes until golden. Add the chicken broth and tomato sauce. Place the lid onto your instant pot, seal it, and pressure cook the Sopa de Estrellas for 2 minutes.
Sopa de Estrellas Variations
There are multiple ingredients you can use to make this Sopa de Estrellas heartier.
• Leftover chicken
• Green beans
• Peas
• Carrots
• Shrimp
• Fish
• Corn
• Potatoes
• Mushrooms
• Zucchini or squash
• Broccoli
Toppings For Sopa de Estrellitas Variations
While Sopa de Estrellas is perfectly fine on its own, you can add toppings. For example, you can add chopped cilantro or parsley, sour cream, jalapeno, and crumbled Queso Fresco.
More Delicious Recipes
Sopa de Estrellas
Ingredients
- ½ Tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup 7 oz. bag of star-shaped pasta
- 1 large tomato, diced
- 2 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp cumin
- 3½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 2 cups Water (optional)
Instructions
- Place olive oil into a soup pot and set it over medium-high heat.
- Add the star-shaped pasta and shallots and cook for 3-4 minutes, constantly stirring until golden brown.
- Add the diced shallots and keep stirring constantly. Then stir in minced garlic, cumin, and diced tomato and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Then add the tomato sauce, and vegetable broth.
- Allow Sopa de Estrellas to come to a boil, then decrease it to medium-low and cook it for 8-12 minutes until pasta is al dente.
- If the Sopa de Estrellas gets too thick, add 1-2 cups of warm water to thin it out.
- Serve and enjoy!
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