Oxtail Soup Recipe (Caldo de Cola de Res)
Oxtail Soup Recipe (Caldo de Cola de Res) is a rich, slow-simmered Mexican soup made with tender beef oxtails, beef shank, and fresh vegetables in a deeply flavorful homemade broth. This hearty, nourishing soup is the ultimate comfort food and tastes even better the next day.
Servings: 10
Ingredients
- 20 cups water
- 3 tablespoons salt
- 6 garlic cloves diced
- 1 large onion chopped
- 3 pounds beef oxtails
- 1 ½ pounds beef shank trim bone, and cut in 2-inch pieces
- 4 carrots peeled and sliced
- 4 small red potatoes 1-inch pieces (leave skins on)
- 4 celery stalks sliced
- ½ large green cabbage remove center and outer layer, chop 2-inch squares
- 3 corn on the cob fresh or frozen, cut in 2-inch pieces
- 2 roma tomatoes chopped
- 2 zucchinis chopped (large pieces)
- 2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 2 teaspoons safflower petals azafran, optional
- Handful cilantro
Instructions
- Bring water with salt and garlic to boil in a large stock pot. Divide ingredients into two large pots, if needed.
- Add onion, oxtails, shanks, and bones and boil, lower to a slow simmer and cover and cook for 2 ½ hours.
- Add all vegetables, raise the heat to bring to a boil, lower heat to a low simmer and cover for 30 minutes.
- Add pepper, coriander, asafran (if using), and cilantro and cook uncovered for 10 minutes. Taste for salt, and add more salt if needed.
- Serve soup with lime wedges and salsa casera, and bone marrow slathered in a warm corn tortilla with a sprinkle of salt.
Notes
- For deeper flavor, you may brown the oxtails before simmering, though this step is optional.
- This recipe makes a large batch. You may halve it for a smaller pot or slow cooker.
- Oxtail soup freezes beautifully for up to 1 month. Leave room for broth expansion.
- The marrow is a delicacy — scoop it onto warm tortillas with a sprinkle of salt or stir back into the soup for extra richness.
- Like most slow-simmered soups, this oxtail soup tastes even better the next day.
Nutrition
Calories: 511kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 55g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 166mg | Sodium: 2458mg | Potassium: 943mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 4366IU | Vitamin C: 37mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 8mg