Sopa de Fideo - Mexican Noodle Soup Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Igor · This post may contain affiliate links · 7 Comments

Scented with cayenne, allspice, cumin, and garnished with cilantro and avocado, this Mexican tomato-based noodle soup (Sopa de Fideo) will take you to Mexico. Ready in 30 minutes!

Sopa de Fideo - Mexican Noodle Soup Recipe (1)

I will tell you this. I am not a huge fan of spicy food. Yep, I said it. That's why Mexican food is not a frequent guest in my kitchen (Carne en su Jugo was amazing though). However, lately I am discovering that far from all food from this sunny country is overly-spiced. There actually exist dishes that are not packed with chillies or other hot peppers with exotic names. Or there are recipes that let you skip them without losing too much flavor. Good news for me! Sopa de Fideo is one of them. The name translates as "noodle soup" from Spanish. That's exactly what it is!

Sopa de Fideo - Mexican Noodle Soup Recipe (2)

The base of this hearty soup is made from tomatoes. Different recipes use different type of tomatoes. There are versions with fresh, roasted and canned ones. As with every traditional dish, there is no single recipe, because every family has their own tricks and secrets! I've used canned ones because it's winter now and I won't be able to find fresh and juicy tomatoes. I definitely don't want to use those tasteless, woody things they call winter tomatoes for the soup! Even if I did want to use them, it would be complicated to do that, because we need juice for Sopa de Fideo and there is no juice in them, at all.

Sopa de Fideo - Mexican Noodle Soup Recipe (3)

As for the noodles, this soup requires Fideo, angel hair or vermicelli. The interesting thing is that you don't cook them in the water or broth, but you fry them before adding the liquid instead. That's the secret of this dish! You will see how the noodles will absorb the liquid nicely, thickening the soup in the end.

Sopa de Fideo - Mexican Noodle Soup Recipe (4)

This Sopa de Fideo recipe is a feast of flavors. Tomatoes, cumin, cilantro, avocados, lime - everything in one bowl! A bowl of comfort and warmth. Talking about lime, you can add juice of one lime to the pot in the very end or cut into wedges and serve it like that so everyone would be able to decide if they want it. If you are not like me and want some heat - just add 1 jalapeno to a pot. You can serve this Mexican noodle soup as a side dish or a starter before the main meal. Or you can add some shredded chicken or beef and make it as a standalone filling soup. Enjoy! Sopa de Fideo - Mexican Noodle Soup Recipe (5)

Sopa de Fideo - Mexican Noodle Soup Recipe (6)

Sopa de Fideo - Mexican Noodle Soup

CookingTheGlobe

Fideo soup is a tomato-based noodle soup coming from Mexico. This version is vegetarian and is supposed to be served before the main meal but feel free to add some meat and turn it into a filling standalone dish!

4.50 from 4 votes

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Cuisine Mexican

Servings 6 people

Calories 363 kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 teaspoons vegetable or olive oil
  • 8 oz (225g) Fideo, vermicelli or angel hair noodles, broken into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 14 oz (400g) can chopped or crushed tomatoes
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 8 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth, water mixed with chicken bouillon works too
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 lime
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • 1 avocado

Instructions

  • Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a soup pot on medium heat. Add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes, until translucent. Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.

  • Transfer the cooked onion and garlic into a blender. Add canned tomatoes, 1 cup of broth, cumin, allspice and cayenne pepper. Blend until smooth.

  • In the same soup pot heat 1 teaspoon of oil on a medium heat and cook noodles for about 2-5 minutes, stirring continuously. Noodles have to be golden brown, but be careful not to burn them! Stir!

  • Pour the tomato mixture into the pot. Add the remaining broth. Bring to a boil and cook for about 10 minutes, until the noodles are tender. Salt and pepper to taste.

  • Add the juice of 1 lime into the pot or serve the lime cut in wedges individually. Garnish with cilantro and avocado slices. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 363kcal

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Britt B.

    Sopa de Fideo - Mexican Noodle Soup Recipe (7)
    This was delicious! Though I did find that I needed to add additional seasoning and tomatoes, it was a little weak and watery when following the recipe as is. I also added shredded chicken on top! It was great and I would definitely use this recipe again as a guide. ?

    Reply

    • Igor

      I'm happy to hear it, Britt!

      Reply

  2. Jessica

    This recipe sounds Americanized, which is not positive. My family from both my father and my mother is Mexican and never ever have we used black pepper/cumin/allspice/cayenne pepper to make traditional sopa de fideos. Both sides of the family from different states in Mexico and none have used those ingredients to make this soup.

    Reply

    • Igor

      Thank you for the information, Jessica. It may be Americanized as you say, I am not sure about it. So no seasoning at all then? 🙂

      Reply

  3. Chris

    Sopa de Fideo - Mexican Noodle Soup Recipe (8)
    I made this recipe minus the cumin and allspice(because I didn’t have any) the liquid sounded like way too much so I cut it in half, using just 4 cups of chicken broth made it not too soupy, more like I’ve had it at Mexican restaurants, it was really delicious, I will definitely make it often.

    Reply

  4. Mario

    Great recipe. What some people do not understand is that the ingredients you use might not be exactly the ingredients I use. Sometimes it turns out perfect other times it does not. That's when you have to decide what spices to use to bring it to your liken. That is exactly what i did. I just needed a foundation to start. Just to let you know I'm Mexican and so is my wife. My mom made this soup many times when I was growing up. I must say this is right on cue. The way I go about it is look up recipes that my mother has made, which I loved and then I ask my mother how she has made it. She go's by memory not by written recipes.

    Reply

    • Mario

      Right on. I look for the foundation and then work from there. This recipe is right on just a little modification here and there.
      Thank you!!!

      Reply

  5. Micaela

    It was delicious! Thank you for the added spices. Despite background in culture, flavor is flavor and this recipe was fantástico! Thank you!

    Reply

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Sopa de Fideo - Mexican Noodle Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a Mexican Sopa made of? ›

You'll have Mexican Sopa on the table in about 30 minutes and with just a few ingredients as well. You start with toasting the pasta in some oil, then add in the onion. After the pasta is toasted, add the tomato sauce, chicken broth, beef bullion cube. Garnish with plenty of cilantro when serving.

What is the difference between fideo and noodles? ›

There's room in our hearts for all of the types of noodles in the world—and fideos are no exception. Simply put, fideos means “noodles” in Spanish. But the word actually refers to a particular kind of noodle—short and golden, with vermicelli-like thinness—as well as to specific dishes.

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.

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 are the 4 ingredients that feature in many Mexican dishes? ›

The most popular Mexican ingredients are beans, rice, avocado and limes. They're utilized in nearly every dish, from hearty enchilada casseroles to creamy drinks like horchata. Read on to learn the top ingredients in Mexican cooking and to find some recipe inspiration for your next taco or burrito night at home!

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 fideo Italian or Mexican? ›

Fideo is a delicious family favorite and one that emphasizes our native tomato. I first wrote about this some years ago, but decided to post this recipe again because I suddenly realized that our “Fideo” probably predates the Italian dish, spaghetti with tomato sauce.

Why do you fry noodles before adding to soup? ›

To prevent noodles from getting mushy in chicken noodle soup, you can follow these tips: Cook Noodles Separately: Cook the noodles separately from the soup and add them just before serving. This allows you to control the cooking time of the noodles independent of the soup broth.

Why do you fry pasta before adding to soup? ›

She would gently fry the pasta in a pan until it was slightly golden brown before adding it to the broth. She always said frying it first added more flavor to the soup, and she wasn't wrong. You can also boil the pasta separately and add the cooked pasta to the broth, but I highly suggest trying it this way first.

What does sopa mean in Mexico? ›

[ saw-pah ] show ipa. nounSpanish. soup.

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.

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.

Why do Mexicans fry their noodles? ›

The Mexican culinary love for toasting dry starches in oil is as necessary as South Asian cooks blooming their fresh spices in oil — it adds depth, smokeyness and brings out hidden flavors.

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.

What noodles are best for soup? ›

The best noodles for soup
  • Rice noodles. Fast-cooking rice noodles are generally made from rice flour and water and are a favorite in soups, salads and stir-fries. ...
  • Ramen noodles. Winter Chicken Ramen. ...
  • Orzo. ...
  • Egg noodles. ...
  • Acini de pepe.
Jan 5, 2023

Is caldo and sopa the same thing? ›

Caldo | Compare Spanish Words - SpanishDictionary.com. "Sopa" is a noun which is often translated as "soup", and "caldo" is a noun which is often translated as "broth". Learn more about the difference between "sopa" and "caldo" below.

What is the difference between a tostada and a sopa? ›

As Aida De Acosta correctly stated, sopes are softer and thicker. They are made directly from masa (corn dough). Tostadas are usually made from old, dried tortillas that are fried (You can get baked ones now) and are crispy, crunchy and flat. The toppings are pretty similar.

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