Sopa de Fideo Chili

The CWT way! - Inspired by Sopa de Fideo (Mexican Noodle Soup)

-original base and CWT recipes included

"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, budget-friendly and kids love it because what kid doesn’t like noodles?"

Fideo soup is what Mexican family 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, budget-friendly and kids love it because what kid doesn’t like noodles, right? A warm bowl of fideo served up with a beef soft taco or a bean and cheese taco (another kid-friendly food staple I might add) is a combination that ranks right up there with the likes of the American tomato soup and a grilled cheese, Italian Pastina and crusty bread or southern cornbread and chili! In my opinion, this is cheap comfort food gold.

All mom's made different variations, so there is no ONE right way. The base of this soup consists of blending tomatoes, onion, garlic, and broth and pouring that over very thin noodles that have been sautéed until golden brown. More vegetable broth is added then everything is simmered until tender. Interestingly, fideo is also known as what is referred to as a “dry soup” (yes, it’s a thing). 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. I hope you all enjoy it if you try it.

So if you know me well... of course I had to play with my food and take this to another level... and even easier level for that matter! If you are familiar with what I call refrigerator soup (where you take every and everything you have leftover in your fridge to make a big ol pot of soup to save money and not waste leftovers). I had this growing up and I don't think two soups were ever alike through my years. I still make it to this day, of course the pots are alot smaller now. I had a bowl od chili left over from a week night dinner, a bag of fideo and all the main ingrediants I needed. So I grabbed a pot and here we are!

Sopa de Fideo

-Original Version

Servings – 4 Prep Time – 15

Cook Time – 15

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons vegetable 0r olive oil

• 1 7oz bag fideo pasta

• 1 12oz can of tomato sauce

• 2-1/2 cups chicken broth or water with call for amount of chicken-flavored bouillon, low sodium

• 1/2 - 1 cup Mexican cheese, shredded

• 1/4 of a medium onion, coarsely chopped

• 1-2 teaspoons ground cumin

• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

• 1/2 teaspoon paprika

• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Optional Toppings/Sides

• Cilantro

• Sour cream

• Banana slices

• Tortilla with mayo

• Queso fresco or cotija cheese

• Salsa

• Tortilla chips

Directions:

Add 2 tablespoons oil to a medium pot and cook on LOW-MEDIUM heat. Add in chopped onion and cook until translucent and soft.

Add in 1 tablespoon of oil to the onion mix; stir in fideo and cook until noodles are coated in oil and have started to lightly brown.

Add garlic, chili, and onion powder, paprika, cumin, and pepper. Stir until combined.

Pour in tomato sauce and broth and bring to a boil. Then reduce to LOW and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until noodles are soft.

Simmer for 5 minutes and serve warm.

Garnish individual servings as desired and enjoy!

Notes:

Noodle substitute: If you can’t find fideo noodles, break angel hair noodles, thin spaghetti, or vermicelli noodles into 1-inch pieces and toast.

Storing: leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, or freeze for 3-4 months.

Can I add meat or veggies to the soup? 

• Add shredded chicken or browned ground beef or turkey for a heartier fideo soup.

• Add veggies like peas, corn, zucchini, and carrots or a can of diced or crushed tomatoes.

Want to add more flavor? 

• Infuse extra flavor by sautéing chopped fresh garlic in the oil before adding the fideo.

• Make this Sopa de Fideo recipe a richer flavor by pureeing roasted tomatoes instead of tomato sauce.

• Spice it up with jalapeno or add in a little hot sauce.

*The sauce/broth will continue to absorb into the noodles as the pan sits, since it’s known as a dry-soup. Add 1-2 more cups of broth or water to offset the absorption process, if you prefer to keep more liquid in the soup.

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Sopa de Fideo Chili

-The CWT Way!

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons vegetable 0r olive oil

• 1 7oz bag fideo pasta

• 1 8oz can tomato sauce

• 1 8 or 10oz can of crushed tomatoes

• 1 cup beef broth, low sodium

• 1 cup Mexican cheese, shredded

• 2 cups left over chili, try my MF's Chili recipe

• 1-2 teaspoons ground cumin

• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

• 1/2 teaspoon paprika

• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

• Cilantro, optional garnish

• Sour cream, optional garnish

• Extra shredded cheese, optional garnish

• Tortilla chips, optional side

Directions:

Add 3 tablespoons oil to a medium pot and cook on LOW-MEDIUM heat. Stir in fideo and cook until noodles are coated in oil and have started to lightly brown.

Pour in tomato sauce, broth and crushed tomatoes; mix well. Add garlic, chili, and onion powder, paprika, cumin, and pepper; stir until combined. Then reduce to LOW and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until noodles are soft.

Simmer for 5 minutes and serve warm.

Garnish individual servings with shredded cheese, sour cream and cilantro if desired and enjoy!

Notes:

Storing: leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days

Nutrition:

-Based on original version only

Calories: 49 | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 3g | Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 575mg | Potassium: 36mg | Fiber: 0.01g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 0.03mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 0.2mg

"This is delicious. It's the Mexican version of the Italian Pastina! Good ole comfort food."

CWT is not a certified dietician or nutritionist. Any nutritional information shared on this site is an estimate counted through measurements and package nutritional information used in each recipe. If calorie, macro counting and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend running the ingredients through your choice of nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary depending on national brands used per recipe.