Description
Sopa de Fideo is a traditional Mexican noodle soup made with toasted thin pasta, a flavorful tomato base, and aromatic herbs. This quick and comforting dish combines blended tomatoes, garlic, oregano, and cumin simmered with fideo noodles in chicken or vegetable broth, finished with fresh cilantro. Perfect for a light meal or a cozy starter, it’s easily customizable with vegetables or spice.
Ingredients
Scale
Tomato Base
- 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon fresh Mexican oregano (or Mediterranean oregano), chopped
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
Noodles
- 1 (7-ounce) package cut fideo pasta
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
Broth & Garnish
- 1 quart chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Make tomato base: Combine the canned whole tomatoes, 1/4 cup olive oil, garlic cloves, chopped oregano, kosher salt, and ground cumin in a blender. Blend on high speed until the mixture is completely smooth and well combined.
- Toast noodles: Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the fideo pasta and stir frequently, toasting the noodles until they turn a golden brown and are fragrant, about 4 minutes.
- Simmer: Pour the blended tomato base into the pot with the toasted noodles and cook in the oil for 1 to 2 minutes to deepen the flavors. Then add the chicken or vegetable broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let simmer for approximately 5 minutes or until the pasta is tender and fully cooked.
- Serve: Stir in the chopped cilantro just before serving to add freshness and a burst of color. Ladle the soup into bowls and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- For a vegan option: Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- To make the soup more hearty: Add diced vegetables such as carrots, peas, green beans, zucchini, or potatoes.
- Serving suggestions: Garnish with a squeeze of lime juice, crumbled queso fresco, or diced avocado to enhance flavor.
- If using fresh tomatoes instead of canned, use 2 cups of chopped Roma tomatoes.
- Make it spicy by adding a few splashes of hot sauce or a teaspoon of arbol chili powder.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
