How do you cook menudo soup?

How to Make Menudo Soup

Menudo, a hearty Mexican soup, is traditionally made with tripe (cow stomach), hominy, and a flavorful broth. Here's a classic recipe:

Ingredients:

* For the Tripe:

* 1 lb beef tripe, cleaned and cut into 1-inch pieces

* 1 large onion, quartered

* 2 bay leaves

* 1 tablespoon salt

* 1 teaspoon black pepper

* Water, as needed

* For the Broth:

* 1 lb beef bones

* 1 large onion, quartered

* 2 carrots, chopped

* 2 celery stalks, chopped

* 1 teaspoon salt

* 1 teaspoon black pepper

* Water, as needed

* For the Soup:

* 1 cup hominy, rinsed

* 1 large onion, chopped

* 2 cloves garlic, minced

* 1 green bell pepper, chopped

* 1 jalapeño pepper, chopped (optional)

* 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained

* 1 tablespoon chili powder

* 1 teaspoon cumin

* 1/2 teaspoon oregano

* 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

* Salt and pepper to taste

* Lime wedges, for serving

* Cilantro, chopped, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Tripe:

* In a large pot, combine the tripe, onion, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Add enough water to cover the tripe by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1-2 hours, or until the tripe is tender. Drain the tripe and reserve the broth.

2. Make the Broth:

* In the same pot, combine the beef bones, onion, carrots, celery, salt, and pepper. Add enough water to cover the bones by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 3 hours, or until the broth is rich and flavorful. Skim off any foam that rises to the surface.

3. Cook the Soup:

* Remove the bones from the broth and set aside. Add the hominy to the broth and simmer for 30 minutes, or until tender.

* Add the cooked tripe, chopped onion, garlic, green pepper, jalapeño (if using), tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and cayenne (if using). Bring to a simmer and cook for another 30 minutes, or until the flavors have melded.

* Season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Serve:

* Ladle the menudo into bowls and garnish with lime wedges and chopped cilantro. Serve hot.

Tips:

* Cleaning the Tripe: Tripe can be a bit intimidating, but it's actually quite easy to clean. Most grocery stores sell pre-cleaned tripe. If you're buying it raw, you can clean it yourself by soaking it in cold water, scraping off any impurities, and then boiling it for a few minutes to remove any lingering odor.

* Adjust the Heat: You can adjust the amount of jalapeño and cayenne pepper to your preferred level of spice.

* Variations: Some people like to add other ingredients to their menudo, such as potatoes, corn, or chorizo. Feel free to experiment and create your own unique version.

* Leftovers: Menudo is delicious reheated. You can store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Enjoy!