Sopa de Fideo Recipe (Authentic and Easy)

An authentic Sopa de Fideo recipe, you will be surprised how easy, quick and delicious this soup is. It’s one of Mexico’s most classic soup recipes made with tomatoes, noodles, garlic, and broth. Loved by kids and adults alike.

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This world we are living in is crazy. Seriously. Times like these call for the upmost comfort foods of comfort foods—Sopa de Fideo.

It’s a meal with the power to reset the body and mind, to smooth down the rough edges. It is economical and takes very little time to prepare. Sopa de Fideo is low in calories and if you swap out the chicken broth for vegetable stock, vegan! But even the preparation is soothing, standing over a pot of simmering soup can be almost meditative.

And if you have the sometimes difficult task of feeding young children Sopa de Fideo is a godsend. The flavor of the tomato based broth is gentle and totally satisfying. This recipe is similar to one Armando’s grandmother used to make. I’ve never met a soul who doesn’t like fideo soup. It’s just good wholesome food!

More To Explore

Crock Pot Caldo de Pollo

Vegan Pozole Verde

Sopa de Letras {Mexican Alphabet Pasta Soup}

What is Fideo?

Fideo is a thin spaghetti similar to angel hair pasta or vermicelli but with a richer taste. The fideo used for this soup is cut into small pieces, look for packages labeled “cut fideo”, not the longer noodles.

Fideo originates from Spain where a variety of this soup is eaten. It is believed the Spanish found their love of fideo from the Islamic influence that dominated their country centuries ago. The Spanish brought fideo to Mexico and many Mexican pasta companies have been producing fideo for decades. The texture of this type of pasta is a bit different, softer than Italian-style pasta.

You can find fideo at most grocery stores (look in the aisle with the other Latin foods) and at all Latin markets. If you can’t find it, use cut spaghetti. Break it into 1-inch pieces before toasting.

Ingredients to Make This Mexican Noodle Soup

This is how we like our Sopa de Fideo, pure and simple. You can add a chopped onion or freshly ground black pepper to the broth if you like.

• 1 can whole tomatoes
• Olive oil
• Garlic
• Fresh Mexican oregano or Mediterranean oregano
• Fideo pasta
• Kosher salt
• Ground cumin
• Chicken broth or chicken bouillon and water or substitute vegetable broth to make it vegan.
• Cilantro

How To Make It

This recipe is so simple my daughter often makes it all on her own (this is by far her favorite food on earth). The technique of frying the noodles in oil brings out a nutty flavor. Make sure you are stirring them constantly when you toast them however, they can easily burn.

step one

Make tomato mixture. Combine tomatoes with the juice and all, 1/4 cup of the olive oil, garlic, oregano, 1 tsp salt, and cumin in a blender. Blend on high until smooth. Set aside but keep it close to the stove as you’ll want to pour it in immediately after the pasta is done toasting.

step two

Toast the noodles. Heat remaining 3 tbsp of olive oil in a large pot (at least 4 quarts) with a lid over medium heat. Add the noodles and cook, stirring constantly, coating the fideo in oil. When the noodles turn from a glossy tan to a matte golden brown color they are ready.

step three

Add the tomato sauce. Add the tomato base to the noodles and stir to fry the sauce in the oil a bit. Be careful when you add the tomato sauce, it will sputter and spurt in the hot oil. Stir constantly as you pour to prevent getting burned.

Add the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat so the soup is just simmering. Cover and continue cooking just until the pasta is tender, about 5 minutes.

step four

Serve. Stir in the chopped cilantro and serve! Cut a couple of limes in wedges for squeezing.

*Serve right away. The longer it sits the thicker it becomes and the pasta gets softer and softer. This soup is one best eaten immediately and should not be frozen. It will come out of the freezer a gloppy mess.

Variations

More vegetables. To make it more hearty you can add diced vegetables like carrots, peas, green beans, zucchini, or potatoes. Cut them into small cubes and add them with the broth, let simmer until tender. 1 cup of chopped vegetables is all you’ll need.

Garnishes. Feel free to add some garnishes to the top like a squeeze of lime juice, crumbled queso fresco, or diced avocado.

Add beans. To add a little protein, stir in a cup or so of cooked beans right before serving. Pinto beans, black beans, or even garbanzo beans would be good.

Use fresh tomatoes. In the summer when tomatoes are really flavorful, use fresh Roma tomatoes instead of the canned. You will need 2 cups of chopped tomatoes.

Make it spicy. Add a few splashes of hot sauce or a teaspoon of arbol chili powder for a bit of heat.

Fideo Seco. There is another version of this dish that is more of a pasta dish with tomato sauce and not a soup. This is called Fideo Seco (or dry Fideo) and I have a delicious recipe for it topped with Chipotle-Garlic Roasted Kale, crema, and queso fresco in my cookbook, Plant Powered Mexican.

What To Serve With Sopa de Fideo

This is really a dish I serve on its own for a simple, fuss-free dinner but if you wanted to make it more of a meal these recipes would go great with a cozy bowl of fideo.

• Warm Corn Tortillas
• Pickled Red Onions
• Black Bean and Cheese Vegetarian Tamales
• Red Lentil Picnic Salad with Sweet Cider Dressing
• Super Creamy Authentic Horchata
• Grilled Veggie Skewers with Smoky Chile Vinaigrette
• Calabacitas {Cheesy Mexican Zucchini}

More Soup Recipes You’ll Love

• Green Tomato Chili
• Pozole Blanco {White Pozole with Mushrooms}
• Chipotle Black Bean Chili
• Creamy Lentil Soup with Salsa Macha
• Chicken Tomatillo Stew
• Sopa de Albóndigas
• The Best Mexican Potato Soup with Melty Cheese

Bon Appetitos

When you need the comfort of a cozy bowl of soup there’s nothing better than fideo. I can’t wait to hear what you think. Let me know when you make it by snapping a pic and tagging me on Instagram @holajalapeno and #holajalapeno so I can see or leave me a comment below (don’t forget to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating) ! Also, sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

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Resources

Fideo and Fideu by Rachel Laudan

History of La Moderna Pasta Company