Sopa de Fideo (Mexican Noodle Soup)

Sopa de Fideo is a Mexican Noodle Soup made from short, thin pasta simmered in a tomato-based broth. There are many variations based on the region and family. This recipe is for a basic Sopa de Fideo. The tomatoes, onions, and garlic are pureed in the blender to create a base for the soup and seasoned with chicken broth and cilantro.

Fideo is the Spanish word for noodle (also known as Filini in Italian). It is a common ingredient in North and South American cooking. These noodles are about the same width as angel hair pasta and you can find them packaged in short pieces or long strands bundled up in nests. For soups, they are usually around an inch long. If you are unable to find fideo in your area, substitute with angel hair pasta and break them into pieces. Break them up in a bag or other controlled environment. Before I found fideos, I often ended up with random pieces of angel hair flying across my kitchen. Fideos can also be found on Amazon: La Moderna Fideo (Pack Of 20).

For the most part, Evan is very anti-noodle. He seemed to forget that after trying this soup. He preferred using his hands to a spoon, so fideo ended up everywhere. This dish definitely made it to the top ten biggest messes Evan has created during mealtime. By the end of it, some fideo were even found in his hair.

Sopa de Fideo (Mexican Noodle Soup)
Adapted from Amanda’s Cookin’
Serves 4

14 ounces tomatoes, fresh or canned and diced
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
7 ounces Fideo or Angel Hair broken into about 1 inch pieces
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro plus more for garnish

 

In a blender, add the tomatoes, onion, and garlic. Blend until smooth.

In a large skillet, drizzle olive oil over medium low heat. Add the fideo noodles and cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown. Remove from heat.

In a medium saucepan, add pureed vegetables, chicken broth, noodles, salt, and pepper and bring to boil. Add the noodles, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until the noodles are nearly tender, 7-8 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and simmer for another 2 minutes. Serve immediately with more chopped cilantro for garnish.