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Fideo soup is what Mexican childhood memories are made of. It is a warm comforting soup made with a tangy tomato base and golden brown noodles. It is so popular with moms because it is very easy to make, and kids love it because what kid doesn't like noodles?
How to Make Sopa de Fideo
So what makes a sopa de fideo authentic?? I think the only true answer to this would be, that the most authentic sopa de fideo is the one your mamá used to make. So go ahead and ask her for the recipe!! Though I find that every cook adds their own touch to it, some may add cilantro, chipotle or jalapeños. There are also several variations of sopa de fideo that are well-known like sopa de fideo con frijoles, sopa de fideo with albondigas, and sopa seca de fideo.
Regardless of how your mom makes it or the different variations, the base of this soup consists of blending tomatoes, onion, garlic, and broth and pouring that over very thin noodles that have been sauteed until golden brown. More vegetable broth is added then everything is simmered until tender.
I like to add zucchini to mine for nutritional purposes, but my mom never added zucchini to hers. My mom usually made hers a sopa de letras, using alphabet pasta instead of angel hair to make it fun for us. To make this vegan, I simply used vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.
The Recipe: Fideo Soup
- For this version, I used canned tomatoes because tomatoes are not in season right now. If it's summer I recommend you use fresh tomatoes.
- You can add zucchini, carrots, beans or potatoes to this for higher nutritional value.
- You can also make this soup using alphabet pasta to make sopa de letras.
- To make this recipe without oil set the pot to medium-low heat and add the noodles. Dry toast the noodles until golden brown stirring constantly, about 3 minutes. Continue with the rest of the recipe as written.
- I like to add a sprig of cilantro with the zucchini, but that is completely optional.
- For a lot of us, the food memory of this soup is associated with the flavor that knorr chicken flavor bouillon gives to the soup. To substitute this, I recommend using Better than Bouillon No Chicken Base
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Sopa de Fideo (Mexican Noodle Soup)
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp. Oil (optional)
- 8 oz. Angel hair pasta or whole wheat thin spaghetti, broken into 1 in. pieces
- 1 can (14.5 oz) Diced tomatoes or 2 cups of fresh diced tomatoes
- 1/2 Onion, white, chopped
- 3 Garlic cloves, peeled
- 10 cups Vegetable stock
- 1 Mexican zucchini, diced
- 1 Lime, cut into quarters
Instructions
- In a medium pot get your vegetable stock boiling hot and set aside.
- Set a large pot to medium heat and add oil. Once the oil is hot add broken up noodles and toss to coat in oil. Continue to cook until noodles are golden brown, about 3 minutes.
- While the noodles are browning, place the tomatoes, onion, garlic, and 2 cups of the vegetable stock in the blender and process until smooth.
- Strain this mixture directly into the golden noodles still in the hot pot. Stir to prevent the noodles from sticking.
- Let mixture simmer for 1 minute. Add the rest of your stock and set heat to high. Add zucchini and cook noodles at a low boil until noodles are al dente and zucchini is tender. Stir often. Season.
- Serve with a wedge of lime so everyone can add as much lime juice as they like.
Notes
- For this version, I used canned tomatoes because tomatoes are not in season right now. If it's summer I recommend you use fresh tomatoes.
- You can add zucchini, carrots, beans or potatoes to this for higher nutritional value.
- You can also make this soup using alphabet pasta to make sopa de letras.
- To make this recipe without oil set the pot to medium-low heat and add the noodles. Dry toast the noodles until golden brown stirring constantly, about 3 minutes. Continue with the rest of the recipe as written.
- I like to add a sprig of cilantro with the zucchini, but that is completely optional.
- For a lot of us, the food memory of this soup is associated with the flavor that knorr chicken flavor bouillon gives to the soup. To substitute this, I recommend using Better than Bouillon No Chicken Base
Nutrition
Are you looking for more Mexican soup recipes?? Try this pozole verde, pozole rojo, vegan tortilla soup, vegan caldo de res, and this vegan albóndiga soup.
I have been craving it for a while now but didn’t know how it would taste vegan since I’m use to eating it with meat broth and creme in it. Going to make some tonight!
It's such a comfort food for me. Hope you liked it!
My grandma used to make a very similar version of this and I unfortunately lost her version of the recipe when I moved. I think I'll be able to make hers using parts of this recipe! Thank you for giving me the ability to get a little piece of her back.
Your comment has made me so happy!! That is my goal with these recipes to bring continue our culinary traditions in vegan form.
You say to use vegetable stock, but notes say better than bullion. Do you use both?
You can use either. I've never used both, but I don't see why you couldn't
Better than bullion has a vegetable base variety. It's delicious and actually my favorite of all of them!
This was absolutely fantastic!! So easy to make too. I’ll be making this again
Thank you so much!
My stepmother used to make me this and I lost her about a year ago and this recipe reminds me of her so much. Thank you for helping me be a little closer to her ?
I'm so glad this brought you closer to your stepmother.
my mom uses only tomatoes fresh, chicken boullion and some onion. with the Mexican brand pasta. Super simple and comforting. of course she does add oil to the pasta first to brown a little. yum!
I like to use fresh tomatoes in the summer. In the winter I used canned.
Also I like adding a little bit of sour cream or sprinkle cotija cheese once served.
Yes!
I’ve been craving sopa de fideo and was glad I found your recipe. I made a mess trying to make sopa de fideo. I stir fried onion, tomatoes, and garlic. Then added fideo. My dad suggested I add two packages of fideo instead of one. ? what a mistake that was. One of my brothers mentioned what I made was not like mom’s. ??♀️ I get it, but at least I tried. I’ll keep at it until I get the right consistency.
So glad to try your recipe. It is delicious. I love discovering the traditional foods of the south west and Mexico.
Made this tonight and we all loved it! Perfectly cozy and delicious on a chilly night! My kids told me if I made it every night that would be ok with them!
Question why is the fideo absorbed all the liquid after ? I cooked the same way but after 5 minutes is done no liquid. Thanks
You can just add more liquid if necessary.