About this recipe
There is no exact way to say Sopa de Fideo in English, but you can call it Mexican noodle soup. Sopa de fideo, or sopita de fideo, is a beloved Mexican classic that provides a comforting embrace with every spoonful.
Whether the day is sunny or rainy, this noodle soup with tomato broth (caldillo) is enjoyed equally by both young and old. It is the kind of soup that warms the soul and makes you feel cherished. Here’s the recipe for vegan sopa de fideo, which has the same taste as the one I had in my childhood.
Some families call it sopita de fideo; in others, it is sopa aguada (brothy soup) or sopa de pasta (pasta soup). They may have different names but are all made the same, so this Mexican Sopa (soup) will always taste excellent.
Ingredients for the fideo soup
- Fideo pasta, Mexican noodles. Substitute with vermicelli or broken angel hair.
- Tomato, onion, and garlic. Substitute with canned tomatoes. In some places, they call this combination recaudo or caldillo.
- Vegetable broth or water.
- Optional, recommended, chile ancho or chile pasilla.
How to make Mexican sopa de fideo?
- To prepare the tomato and onion caldillo, start by cutting the tomatoes in half and chopping the onion into quarters. Peel the garlic cloves and add them to the mix. Place all the ingredients in a food processor or blender. Add a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor. Blend the mixture until it becomes a smooth and flavorful tomato and onion puree.
- Heat oil over medium heat in a large pot. Toast noodles until golden brown to give this Mexican sopa a traditional flavor.
- After adding the tomato sauce, let it cook for a minute or so until it sizzles. Then, pour some water or vegetable broth and let the mixture simmer for approximately 10 minutes. Keep an eye on the color of the tomato sauce. It should turn from a lighter to a deeper shade of red, indicating that the fideo soup is ready and the pasta is al dente.
Tips
- The pasta can burn pretty fast; do not take your eyes away.
- Feel free to add more broth or water to the soup. Remember, this is a sopa aguada, brothy soup.
- The soup’s texture thickens at room temperature, and the pasta absorbs water.
- This soup is best eaten as soon as it is done.
- Don’t be afraid to season your soup; it requires very few ingredients, and you need the salt, a big pinch.
- If you want to add depth of flavor to the broth, roast the tomatoes, garlic, and onion on a pan or comal.
How to serve this soup
Some people serve it with a squeeze of lime juice, others with chopped cilantro. Growing up, my mom served it with a dollop of Mexican crema or sour cream, and my dad added a spoonful of salsa. I always serve it with sliced avocado.
Other families serve it with a queso cotija or queso fresco and a rolled warm corn tortilla. For a vegan version, I substitute with vegan feta cheese.
Give this recipe a twist
- You can add some spinach or other vegetables to make it more substantial.
- Add chickpeas or faux shredded chicken if this is your main dish.
- Change the pasta and use shells, as well as alphabet pasta (sopa de letras in Spanish). And if you don’t have fideo noodles, break spaghetti into small pieces.
How to store and reheat the soup
To store, let the soup cool to room temperature, then ladle it into a container with an airtight seal. You can use a large one or several individual ones. Store the soup in the refrigerator for 5 to 6 days.
To freeze. Freeze in bags or freezer-safe airtight containers. The soup will last up to 6 months in the freezer. Let it thaw for a few minutes before reheating.
To reheat. Reheat in a saucepan or the microwave. Check for seasoning before saving and adjust if needed.
Sopa de Fideo, Mexican Noodle Soup
Equipment
- 4 qt stock size pot
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 8 oz fideo pasta
- 1 pound tomatoes roma tomatoes
- ½ medium onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 5 cups water or vegetable broth
- 1 chile ancho optional
Instructions
- Cut the tomatoes in half, quarter the onion, and peel the garlic. Then, blend in a food processor or blender with a pinch of salt until completely pureed.
- Preheat the oil over medium heat in a medium-large pot and cook the fideos until lightly toasted and golden brown. This step gives this Mexican sopa its traditional flavor.
- Add the tomato mixture and let it sizzle for a minute or so. Then, add water or vegetable broth, and the chile if you're using it. Let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes or until the pasta is al dente. You'll know the fideo soup is done when the tomato mixture turns from a light to a deeper red.
- Remove the chile and serve. Top with cotija cheese and diced avocado.
Notes
Nutrition
information
Nutritional information of this recipe is only an estimate, the accuracy for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Mi enfoque está en recetas que reúnen a las personas alrededor de la mesa, haciendo de cada comida un momento sencillo, delicioso y significativo. También soy autora de Yo Cocino Latino, y mis recetas han sido destacadas en varias revistas y publicaciones en línea.
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