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    Sopa de Fideo (Mexican Noodle Soup)

    Everyone’s favorite Tomato Soup gets an upgrade with noodles. Tomato Noodle Soup? You got it right. Sopa de Fideo is Mexico’s version of everyone’s beloved tomato soup.

    I love how such simple ingredients, thin noodles and a flavorful tomato broth, come together in this easy and quick recipe, which is perfect for busy weeknights.

    If you’re looking for something both delicious and straightforward, make this staple from many Mexican homes…

    Sopa de Fideo is a comforting Mexican soup, where pasta simmers in a tomato based broth. Perfect weeknight dinner, in under 30 minutes.

    In the past, I have given you some of our best Mexican soups like Caldo de Pollo and Albondigas Soup. They take a little work, but are loaded with tons of good flavors.

    Today’s Sopa is comparatively very quick and simple to make, with just a few pantry staples. The first time I made it, I was so amazed by the flavors that it became one of my go-to recipes.

    The best part? It’s very to make. You can whip it up in less than 30 minutes! Plus its customizable to various additions to the basic soup. It’s totally family-friendly, so even the kiddos will be asking for seconds.

    Sopa de Fideo is a comforting Mexican soup, where pasta simmers in a tomato based broth. Perfect weeknight dinner, in under 30 minutes.

    What is Fideo?

    Fideo is essentially a type of pasta that’s very similar to spaghetti or vermicelli, but it’s usually cut into shorter lengths. Often found in Spanish, Mexican, and Filipino cuisines, fideo is quite versatile.

    It comes in different shapes like coils, straight sticks, or even small broken pieces. Its thinness makes it to cook quickly, making it a great choice for quick weeknight dinners.

    uncooked fideo pasta in a bowl

    You can easily find Fideo pasta at your local grocery store, usually in the pasta section or where they keep international foods. Brands like La Moderna or Goya often sell it. You can also visit a Latin or Mexican grocery store, where Fideo is almost always in stock.

    Sopa de Fideo

    Sopa de Fideo is a comforting Mexican soup, where pasta simmers in a tomato based broth. Perfect weeknight dinner, in under 30 minutes.

    The term “Sopa de Fideo” is Spanish and directly translates to “noodle soup” in English. It’s a beloved comfort food in many Latin and Mexican households. The dish traces its roots back to Spain, where noodle soups have been enjoyed for centuries.

    I’ve cooked this simple tomato noodle soup quite a few times, and this version has one special ingredient that makes it a total flavor bomb.

    Sopa de Fideo is a comforting Mexican soup, where pasta simmers in a tomato based broth. Perfect weeknight dinner, in under 30 minutes.

    Ingredients Needed

    • Fideo Pasta – The main star! Substitutes like thin spaghetti or vermicelli, broken into small pieces work too.
    • Roma Tomatoes – Base for the soup.
    • Onion & Garlic – Aromatic essentials.
    • Sazon – My secret ingredient!! You might not find this in typical Mexican sopa, but this seasoning is used heavily in many Latin American countries. It takes this soup over the top!
    • Chicken Bouillon – For a vegetarian version, use vegetable bouillon.
    • Tomato Paste – Optional, but if you want to intensify that tomatoee goodness, go for it!
    • Cumin – Mexican staple.
    • Salt – To taste, because the right amount of salt makes everything better.
    • Cilantro – We love our cilantro but you can skip it if you don’t like its flavor.
    • Toppings – Avocado and more cilantro.

    How to Make Sopa de Fideo

    1. Make the tomato sauce: Add tomatoes, onions, garlic, tomato paste, sazon, chicken bouillon, cumin and salt to a blender and blend until completely smooth. Set aside.

    tomato sauce in a bowl

    2. Toast the Fideo: Heat oil in heavy bottom sauce pan or dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the fideo pasta (broken into 1-2 inch pieces) and sauté, stirring constantly, until lightly browned, about 3-5 minutes.

    toasted fideo

    3. Simmer the noodles: Add the blended tomato sauce and cook for 5 minutes. Add water and reduce the heat to simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until noodles are tender. Stir occasionally. Add a small bunch of cilantro towards the last 10 minutes of cook time. Taste and adjust for salt.

    finished product in a pot

    4. Serve with toppings: You can top it with diced avocado, cilantro, lime, or even some crumbled Mexican cheese like Cotija or Queso Fresco.

    Alpana’s Tips and

    • Toast the Noodles: Please don’t skip this step! Toasting the fideo pasta until golden brown adds a depth to the soup that’s absolutely irresistible. Pay attention when toasting the pasta, it can burn easily. So keep stirring until is evenly golden browned.
    • Quality Tomatoes: Fresh, ripe, juicy tomatoes are needed for tasty sopa.
    • Cook Time: Be careful not to overcook the noodles, they should be tender but still have a little bite.

    Variations

    1. Protein boost: This one is my favorites. We simply sauté ground beef with a little garlic and salt and mix it into the soup. Amazing!!

    When ground beef is added to Sopa de Fideo, it’s often called as “Sopa de Fideo con Carne” or “Sopa de Fideo with Ground Beef.” The addition of ground beef turns the dish into a more hearty and protein-packed meal.

    variation with ground beef

    Similarly you can add leftover rotisserie chicken to the soup.

    2. Add more veggies: Toss in bell peppers, zucchini, or carrots for a hearty vegetable version.

    3. Cheesy goodness: A sprinkle of grated cheese like cheddar or cotija is great here.

    4. Heat it up: I love my spicy food, so sometimes I’ll add some red chili flakes or sliced jalapeños to give my soup a little kick.

    What is a Good Substitute for Fideo Noodles?

    If you’re in a pinch and can’t find Fideo, don’t worry, you’ve got options:

    • Vermicelli: These are thin noodles similar to Fideo and can be broken into shorter pieces.
    • Spaghetti: Break regular or thin spaghetti into shorter lengths for a close match.
    • Angel hair pasta: This is thinner than spaghetti and works well too.
    • Other small shapes: You can use shapes like star pasta, alphabet pasta, or ditallini for a little different texture.
    Sopa de Fideo is a comforting Mexican soup, where pasta simmers in a tomato based broth. Perfect weeknight dinner, in under 30 minutes.

    Leftovers and Storing

    This sopa is great as leftovers for the next few days. Simply place them into an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    The noodles might absorb more liquid as it sits for a few days. When reheating, I like to add a little chicken stock or water to adjust to the desired consistency.

    Heat it over medium heat on stovetop, stirring until heated all through out. Similarly, you can heat this up in the microwave as well.

    Sopa de Fideo is a comforting Mexican soup, where pasta simmers in a tomato based broth. Perfect weeknight dinner, in under 30 minutes.

    Try this super simple Mexican soup, you’ll get amazed at how something so easy can be so comforting and good. It’s all in the flavorings that go into making the tomato broth tasty.

    Whether you go classic or decide to jazz it up with some ground beef or extra veggies, I promise you, this one is a keeper. Oh, and don’t forget to check out our collection of favorite Mexican Soup Recipes as well, and get inspired to cook these new flavors in your kitchen.

    Sopa de Fideo, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!

    bowl of sopa de fideo on the Gypsy Plate

    More International Soup Recipes
    Moroccan Harira Soup
    Greek Fasolada Soup
    Puerto Rican Asopao de Camarones
    Asian Laksa Noodle Soup
    Tuscan Ribillita Soup
    Mexican Caldo de Res
    Bahamian Boiled Fish

    featured image for sopa de fideo recipe

    Sopa de Fideo (Mexican Noodle Soup)

    Yield: 4-6 servings
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes

    Sopa de Fideo is a comforting Mexican soup, where small pasta simmers in a flavorful tomato based broth. Ready in under 30 minutes, it's a perfect weeknight dinner.

    Ingredients

    • 7-8 oz fideo pasta (or thin spaghetti or vermicelli noodles broken into 1 inch pieces)
    • 3 Tbsp oil
    • 4 large roma tomatoes, cut into quarters
    • 1/2 small white or yellow onion, cut into large chunks
    • 3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
    • 1 Sazon packet (Sazón con Culantro y Achiote)
    • 1 chicken bouillon (packet or cube)
    • 1/2 Tbsp tomato paste (optional)
    • 1 tsp cumin
    • 6 cups of water (see note 1)
    • salt to taste
    • small bunch of cilantro

    Toppings

    • cilantro, chopped
    • avocado, diced

    Instructions

    1. Add tomatoes, onions, garlic, tomato paste, sazon, chicken bouillon, cumin, and salt to a blender and blend until completely smooth. Set aside.
    2. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed sauce pan or dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the fideo pasta and sauté, stirring constantly, until lightly browned, about 3-5 minutes.
    3. Add the blended tomato sauce and cook for 5 minutes. Add water and reduce the heat to simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until noodles are tender. Stir occasionally. Add a small bunch of cilantro towards the last 10 minutes of cook time. Taste and adjust for salt.
    4. Sere immediately with your favorite toppings.

    Notes

    1. For thicker soup, use 5 cups of water.
    2. You can make Sopa de Fideo with canned tomatoes as well.
    3. If you can't find fideo, you can use thin spaghetti, vermicelli or angel hair pasta, broken into short 1-inch pieces.
    4. To make this oil-free, you can dry-toast the noodles instead of browning in oil. Heat the pan over medium-low and cook the noodles for about 5-8 minutes until golden. Stir often.

    Nutrition Information
    Yield 4 Serving Size 1
    Amount Per Serving Calories 275Total Fat 19gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 16gCholesterol 0mgSodium 290mgCarbohydrates 24gFiber 5gSugar 3gProtein 5g

    Nutrition information calculated by Nutritionix.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

    Picture of Alpana, blogger and recipe developer at GypsyPlate

    Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.

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