Best Sopa de Fideo Recipe (2024)

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Dig into the rich and comforting flavors of sopa de fideo, featuring roasted tomatoes, aromatic garlic, and toasted noodles. This dish is quick and easy to make, requires only 6 ingredients, and is ultra-satisfying. Serve it warm with garnishes like lime juice, avocado, and cilantro for a well-balanced meal.

Best Sopa de Fideo Recipe (1)

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❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Simple to make: With everyday pantry staples and easy-to-follow steps, you can whip up a bowl of sopa de fideo in no time.
  • Depth of flavor: Roasting tomatoes add a depth of flavor that’s unparalleled, giving the fideo soup a rich base.
  • Perfect for all occasions: Whether it’s a weekday lunch, dinner with close friends, or a sick day meal, this sopa de fideo recipe always hits the spot.
  • Nutritious & filling: This fideo soup is packed with fresh ingredients, providing a whole host of essential vitamins and minerals to keep you healthy.

If you love this sopa de fideo recipe, you should really check out our sopa de conchas, sopa de coditos, sopa de frijoles, and vegan tortilla soup.

🍲What is sopa de fideo?

Sopa de fideo, meaning noodle soup, holds a very special place in the hearts of children and adults around the globe. In Mexico, it’s prepared in a unique and delicious way that we can’t wait to share with you!

Short, thin noodles are first toasted in oil, then they’re cooked in a tomato-based sauce rather than boiled separately in water. This way, they have the chance to soak up the flavors incredibly well.

Plus, the tomatoes are roasted to add incredible depth. Each spoonful is bursting with slightly smoky, tangy, and toasty notes. It’s great for busy weeknight dinners or as a quick lunch with sandwiches.

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📜 History

Sopa de fideo is said to have originated in Spain. It was then introduced to the regions of the Spanish conquest, like the Philippines and Central and South America.

From there, sopa de fideo transformed and took on special characteristics of each specific location. In Mexico, this soup is filled with a tomato and stock mix, and (occasionally) spices like cilantro, parsley, or cumin.

🌱 Is sopa de fideo vegan?

Typically, sopa de fideo recipes are made with chicken broth, but it’s incredibly easy to make a vegan version. Just replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth for an equally flavorful dish that is completely plant-based.

Additionally, while queso fresco is a traditional garnish, it’s also not vegan-friendly. You can easily substitute queso fresco with dairy-free cheese or omit it altogether.

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🛒 Ingredients & substitutions

  • Tomatoes: Once roasted, Roma tomatoes impart a rich, tangy flavor. If you don’t have Romas available, you can try other tomato varieties with varied results.
  • Garlic: Adds a savory depth and aroma. If fresh garlic cloves aren’t available, garlic powder can work as a substitute in a pinch.
  • White onion: Provides a sweet, savory, and robust flavor. Yellow onions also work equally as well as white onions. For a milder option, try shallots.
  • Vegetable broth: Makes up the base of the fideo soup. Homemade or store-bought veggie broth both work. You can also try Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Base to emulate non-vegan versions.
  • Neutral vegetable oil: To sauté the pasta and add a rich flavor. We typically just use avocado oil, but you can replace it with olive oil, sunflower oil, or vegan butter.
  • Fideo: This type of thin noodle is typically made from durum wheat and cut short before packaging. If you can’t find fideo, try vermicelli or broken spaghetti.
  • Salt & pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance the other flavors of the soup. Adjust both according to your preference.

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

📝 How to make sopa de fideo

Step 1: Roast the tomatoes

Preheat your oven to 450F and get those Roma tomatoes roasted! This step enhances the flavors, giving your fideo soup an extra layer of flavor. Remember to flip them for even roasting.

Step 2: Blend the base

Once roasted, blend the tomatoes with onions and garlic. This step infuses the flavors seamlessly, creating a smooth base for your soup.

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Step 3: Toast the noodles

In a pot, heat the vegetable oil and give the noodles a toast for a few minutes until they’re golden brown. This not only adds flavor but also helps prevent the noodles from turning too soggy.

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Step 4: Pour & simmer

Strain the tomato mixture into the noodles along with vegetable broth. Gently simmer the fideo soup until the pasta becomes al dente. We recommend tasting and seasoning the soup with salt and pepper as you go. Happy eating!

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If you have questions about this sopa de fideo recipe, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!

🥑 Garnishes for sopa de fideo

Take your bowl of sopa de fideo to the next level with flavorful toppings like these:

  • Lime wedges
  • Creamy avocado cubes or slices
  • Crumbled vegan queso fresco or vegan cotija cheese
  • A handful of fresh cilantro or parsley
  • Sprinkled Mexican oregano
  • Your favorite kind of hot sauce

🌡️ Storage & reheating

This sopa de fideo recipe is best enjoyed fresh, but here’s what to do if you have leftovers:

  • Fridge: Store it in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
  • Freezer: Sopa de fideo holds well in the freezer for up to a month. We recommend storing it in single-serve containers that are freezer-safe. That way, the thawing and reheating process is easier for you.
  • Reheating: Heat this soup on your stovetop over low-medium for 2-3 minutes until warm. You can also heat it in the microwave in 30-45 second bursts. If it’s frozen, thaw your fideo soup in the fridge overnight before heating.
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♻️ Variations

  • Protein boost: Add cooked black beans or chickpeas to bulk your sopa de fideo up.
  • Spicy: Mix in some jalapeños or hot sauce for a kick.
  • Creamy: Add a dollop of dairy-free sour cream or vegan Mexican crema.
  • Herbs: Mix in cilantro, basil, parsley, or rosemary for a fresh touch.
  • Cheesy: Melt in some vegan cheddar or mozzarella.
  • Grains: Mix in quinoa or rice for added texture.
  • Veggies: To add a little more oomph, mix in chopped bell peppers, squash, carrots, or zucchini before simmering the soup.

🧑‍🍳 Top tips

  • Use fresh tomatoes: It requires a little extra effort to roast the tomatoes, but canned tomatoes just don’t compare.
  • Toast the noodles: Don’t miss this step! It’s what gives sopa de fideo its characteristic flavor.
  • Stir the noodles: When toasting noodles, stir them constantly to avoid burning.
  • Strain the sauce: For the smoothest broth, strain the tomato mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into the pot.
  • Adjust the broth: If you prefer a more liquid soup, add more broth, and vice versa.
  • Simmer over consistent heat: Maintain a steady simmer for even cooking.

💬 FAQ

Why do I need to roast the tomatoes?

Roasting enhances the tomato flavor, adding depth to the soup. If you don’t have time to roast the tomatoes, use canned fire-roasted tomatoes instead.

How do I ensure the noodles don’t turn mushy?

Toasting them first and simmering the soup on low ensures the noodles retain a good texture.

Why is my soup too thick?

The longer the soup sits, the thicker it gets since the noodles absorb broth as they cook. If you like yours more on the soupy side, add more broth to suit your preferences.

Is sopa de fideo gluten-free?

Since fideo is made with wheat, this dish is not gluten-free.

🍴 More soup recipes

If you enjoyed this sopa de fideo recipe, try out our other popular vegan soup recipes:

  • Fava Bean Soup: A high-protein soup with creamy fava beans, fresh vegetables, and aromatic herbs and spices.
  • Lentil Soup: Made from fresh, simple, and inexpensive ingredients.
  • Black Bean Soup: Bold flavors in a recipe that’s high in protein and fiber.
  • Chickpea Soup: Showcasing rich, vibrant, and comforting Mediterranean flavors.

Best Sopa de Fideo Recipe (9)

Best Sopa de Fideo Recipe

Justine Drosdovech

Dig into the rich and comforting flavors of sopa de fideo, featuring roasted tomatoes, aromatic garlic, and toasted noodles. This dish is quick and easy to make, requires only 6 ingredients, and is ultra-satisfying.

5 from 118 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Lunch, Mains

Cuisine Mexican, Vegan

Servings 4 servings

Calories 271 kcal

Equipment

  • Blender

  • Large stockpot

  • Mesh Strainer

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

  • 5 Roma tomatoes
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • ½ medium white onion, chopped
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 ½ tablespoons neutral vegetable oil
  • 7 ounces "fideo" pasta
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Garnishes optional

  • Lime wedges
  • Avocado
  • Queso fresco
  • Cilantro or parsley

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 450°F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spread the tomatoes out evenly on the foil and roast for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway. If your tomatoes are large, you can cut them in half lengthwise to reduce the time.

  • Add the roasted tomatoes, chopped onions, and garlic cloves to a blender and mix on high until smooth. Prepare 6 cups of vegetable broth (we use bouillon cubes, but pre-mixed stock also works). Set both aside.

  • Heat the oil over medium in a large stockpot. Add the dry noodles in and toast them while stirring constantly for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown and fragrant.

  • Pour the tomato mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into the pot and cook for another 1-2 minutes.

  • Pour in the vegetable broth and bring the soup to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat to simmer for 10 minutes, or until the noodles are al dente.

  • Season the sopa de fideo with salt and pepper to taste, then serve it immediately with garnishes of your choice. Happy eating!

Video

Best Sopa de Fideo Recipe (10)

Notes

  • Use fresh tomatoes: It requires a little extra effort to roast the tomatoes, but canned tomatoes just don’t compare.
  • Toast the noodles: Don’t miss this step! It’s what gives sopa de fideo its characteristic flavor.
  • Stir the noodles: When toasting noodles, stir them constantly to avoid burning.
  • Strain the sauce: For the smoothest broth, strain the tomato mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into the pot.
  • Adjust the broth: If you prefer a more liquid soup, add more broth, and vice versa.
  • Simmer over consistent heat: Maintain a steady simmer for even cooking.
  • Nutritional information is a rough estimate and should not be taken as health advice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 271kcal | Carbohydrates: 46.9g | Protein: 7.5g | Fat: 6.2g | Saturated Fat: 4.4g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 1417.8mg | Potassium: 324.3mg | Fiber: 2.8g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1396.9IU | Vitamin C: 12.3mg | Calcium: 25.5mg | Iron: 0.9mg

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Note: We’ve updated this post to include new information and helpful tips about the recipe.

Justine Drosdovech

Food writerat Broke Bank Vegan | Website| + posts

Justine Drosdovech is a food writer, photographer, and one of the founders of Broke Bank Vegan. She is a self-taught plant-based chef but uses her healthcare background to craft dishes that are both delicious and nourishing.

Best Sopa de Fideo Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why does my fideo get mushy? ›

The fideo will become mushy if overcooked. For Mexican sopa de fideo with a wonderful texture, remove the soup from the heat when the noodles have reached your desired tenderness and serve immediately. If making this recipe ahead, cook until the noodles are al dente with just a little firmness left.

Why does my sopa de fideo dry up? ›

Once the pan is removed from the heat and as the dish sits, the pasta will eventually absorb all of the broth, making it become “dry”. If you prefer a more brothy sort of fideo, you will have to add a cup or two more of broth or water to offset the absorption process.

What does Sopa de Fideo contain? ›

Sopa de Fideo is super quick and delicious and one of Mexico's most classic soup recipes! It's made with tomatoes, noodles, garlic, and broth and then you can add extra toppings as your heart desires.

Is sopa de fideo good for you? ›

Key Takeaways: Sopa De Fideo is a tasty Mexican soup that's low in calories, high in fiber, and packed with nutrients. It's great for your heart, digestion, and immune system, and it's super customizable! Enjoying Sopa De Fideo can give you energy, support your bones, and make you feel happy and satisfied.

How do you keep pasta from getting mushy in soup? ›

Don't over-cook the pasta

Alternatively, you could cook the pasta separately and add to the soup at the last moment. This will ensure the pasta and the soup are cooked perfectly. This also works well for re-heating the soup as the pasta can be added at the last minute, helping to keep it al dente.

How do you keep pasta from absorbing soup? ›

Store soup and noodles separately: If you anticipate having leftovers, it's best to store the soup and noodles separately. This prevents the noodles from continuing to absorb liquid as they sit in the soup, which can result in a thicker consistency.

Should you cook pasta before adding to soup? ›

Serving Time

If you're adding them on reheating, you can add uncooked pasta after the soup is simmering steadily and cook it for 10 minutes or cook your pasta separately and add it just before serving.

Is fideo Italian or Mexican? ›

Fideo Seco is a comforting Mexican pasta dish inspired by my travels to Oaxaca. In this recipe, fideo noodles are toasted in oil to enhance their rich, nutty flavor, then slowly simmered in a luscious tomato broth infused with guajillo peppers.

What does Sopa de Fideo mean in English? ›

Sopa de fideo (Spanish for "noodle soup"), also referred to as sopita de fideo, is a stock-based noodle soup that is a part of the cuisines of Spain, Mexico, and Cavite, a province in the Philippines.

What is the difference between caldo and sopa? ›

Caldo refers to the liquid resulting from the boiling of the meat and sopa includes the meat, vegetables and trimmings.

Can I leave fideo out overnight? ›

Eating food that's sat out for a while

Anything perishable should go into the fridge within two hours. If perishables are sitting in temperatures of more than 90 degrees, the time limit to get them into the fridge goes down to one hour.

Is fideo just cut spaghetti? ›

Fideo: The most popular Italian pasta shape – spaghetti, which has been “cut” to please even the youngest Barilla lovers. Excellent for the whole family and absolutely perfect for kids, cut spaghetti is the little ones' very “first” true spaghetti.

What country is fideo from? ›

Some historians believe that noodles were brought to both Italy and Spain by Arab nomads. Likely introduced to Spain between the eighth and ninth centuries, these noodles are said to have become known as the fine, thin fideos known today, which were then eventually taken to Mexico during Spanish colonization.

Who invented sopa de fideo? ›

History: Sopa de fideo originated in Spain; however, after conquering Mexico the Natives put an authentic twist to the broth. Making it what we now have come to know as sopa de fideo. The name is exactly what it is, sopa means soup and fideo means noodle.

How do you fix mushy noodles? ›

Heat the olive oil in a skillet and add your overcooked pasta. Gently sauté over medium heat for a few minutes until the pasta's texture has firmed up. The whole process takes less than 10 minutes and you'll know it is done when the edges of the pasta have started to crisp and light browning has begun.

How do you fix mushy vermicelli? ›

Instead of chucking your mushy pasta into the nearest bin, simply adjust your stove's flame to medium and warm up a sauté pan. Lightly coat the pan with your choice of cooking oil or butter, then slide the soggy noodles into the pan and lightly stir until the pasta is browned in places.

Why did my noodles turn to mush in the crockpot? ›

Why did my noodles turn to mush in the crockpot? One of the most common reasons for mushy noodles is overcooking. Pasta, including noodles, has a relatively short cooking time compared to other ingredients typically prepared in a crockpot.

Does mushy pasta mean overcooked? ›

Overcooked pasta will feel soft and mushy and it might also be sticking to the bottom of the pot, even if you used enough water to cook the pasta. If you cut or bite a piece of pasta and can see a white spot in the cross section of the cut it means that the pasta is not completely cooked.

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