Mexico’s version of kid-friendly comfort food is Sopa de Fideo. Like mac and cheese in the US, it is a classic lunchtime dish that many kids in Mexico grow up on. This version of fideo adds leftover turkey to the tomato and pasta base. Keeps the turkey moist and the adults are just as happy as the kids to slurp up this soup on the day after.
Jump to: RECIPE | What is Sopa de Fideo? | Ingredients/Substitutions | How to Toast Fideo | What to Serve With?
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What is Sopa de Fideo?
Sopa de Fideo is a simple Mexican noodle soup featuring toasted noodles (fideo) in a savory tomato broth.
Traditionally, fresh tomatoes are charred and then puréed to create the base of this soup but many cooks will opt for the convenience of diced canned tomatoes blended with a range of spices.
Specific fideo noodles can be purchased in most Mexican grocery stores, but if you do not have one nearby, angel hair pasta or thin spaghetti noodles are easy to find. Just break them into 1-inch pieces and you have a perfect substitution for fideo noodles.
The pasta pieces are sautéed in a bit of oil until golden, followed by adding a rich tomato broth. The soup is often enjoyed on its own, but popular side garnishes like cheese, sour cream or avocado are frequently served with the soup.
This is a soup that is enjoyed by kids and adults. My husband loved it….he said it reminded him of Spaghetti O’s. Even though that was a good food memory of his youth, I have to say this is far superior to Spaghetti O’s!
By the way, although this dish is called a ”sopa”, some versions are thick enough to be served as a creamy, gloppy noodle casserole.
For a low carb version: A low carb take on fideo uses shirataki noodles which are not toasted. The low carb fideo recipe is great if you want to substitute something low carb for the pasta. Just know it is not traditional.
Ingredients & Substitutions
The fideo noodles are an integral part of this dish. Traditionally fideo vermicelli noodles were used, which are essentially 1-inch-long thin spaghetti noodles. A good substitution for these noodles is to break angel hair pasta into 1-inch pieces. Broken up thin spaghetti noodles also work.
The Tomatoes: The tomato based broth can use charred fresh tomatoes or diced canned tomatoes. I like the fire roasted canned tomatoes, to which I usually add Mexican oregano and chipotle.
The Noodles: The fried noodles and the robust tomato-based broth make up the core of Fideo de Sopa, but from there any number of additions can be added in.
In Addition: My recipe below makes use of leftover turkey (Thanksgiving leftovers) which adds a healthy protein component that can take the soup from lunch to dinner.
Other popular additions and/or garnishes might include:
- Meatballs (similar to this albondigas recipe)
- Ground beef or ground turkey
- Corn
- Zucchini
- Rotisserie chicken
- Garbanzo or black beans
- Crumbled cotija
- Mexican crema
- Jalapenos
- Chipotles from canned chipotle adobe
- Cilantro
- Lime
- Avocados
**Flavor Tips: I like to add a smoky ancho chili blend to the soup, giving it some spice, but keeping it on the milder side of the heat index. The robust tomato flavor is supposed to shine and you don’t want a really hot chili pepper blend masking the tomato taste.
How (and why) to Toast the Pasta
You do not want to skip this step, as it is integral to the traditional Fideo de Sopa dish.
Toasting the noodles until golden brown helps prevent them from becoming mushy once the tomato base is added. It also adds more depth of flavor to the soup, giving it a nutty taste.
Simply preheat 2-3 tablespoons of oil in a skillet over medium high heat and add the 1-inch noodles. Stir until the pasta is golden brown. Keep an eye on the noodles as they can quickly burn. You want golden brown, not dark brown.
Some cooks will top the soup with toasted tortilla strips for added crunch:
What to Serve with Fideo
When served as lunch to kids, the fideo is often served as is. If you are serving it for dinner or to adults that want a more complete meal, a range of healthy garnishes ups the nutrition and the satiation level.
Adding turkey to the fideo increases the protein and adding garnishes like sour cream and avocado increases the good fats. These two additions would make for a filling (and low carb) complete meal.
Still need more? Here are a few other popular serving additions:
- Green Salads
- Chips and salsa rojo
- Corn on the cob
- Broccoli side dishes
- Homemade corn tortillas
More Ideas for Leftover Turkey
When it comes to repurposing turkey leftovers, the possibilities are endless. Sometimes leftover turkey can be quite dry so I try to use it in a recipe that has a broth or a sauce base. Here are some of my favorites:
- Slow Cooker Turkey Chili with squash and beans
- Turkey Gravy
- Open Face Turkey Sandwiches with Red Eye Gravy
- Turkey Chili with Mexican Mole Sauce
Frequently Asked Questions
Well yes, but then it would be a tomato-pasta soup rather than Fideo de Sopa. The 1-inch thin fideo type of noodles, toasted until golden brown, is the hallmark of this soup.
This soup is best when enjoyed fresh, and it is so quick and easy that there isn’t really a need to freeze it for future convenience. If you don’t mind the textural changes in the fideo noodles however, it will freeze for up to 3 months.
Turkey is a naturally dry meat. Dried out turkey isn’t just lacking moisture; it’s also lacking fat, which is why leftover turkey is often served with a gravy. When using it in a soup like fideo de sopa it is not really an issue.
If you are using leftover turkey from Thanksgiving in another way, you can add butter or this turkey gravy recipe to the turkey slices before reheating. This will revitalize the fat content.
Leftover turkey can be refrigerated for up to 4 days if sealed in an airtight container.
If you enjoy all types of Mexican food, check out this category of ALL Mexican recipes, where you will find over 40 Mexican recipes, from casual, to low carb, to fancy.
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Sopa de Fideo with Turkey and Avocado
Equipment
- Dutch oven Or large pot
Ingredients
- 15 ounces diced canned tomatoes I used fire roasted but any kind is fine
- 1 onion coarsely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 teaspoons Mexican oregano
- 2 chipotles from canned chipotle adobe Plus 2 tablespoons of adobe sauce
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons oil I use refined olive oil
- 6 ounces angel hair pasta or thin spaghetti, or Mexican fideo noodles
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 3 cups chopped turkey bite sized pieces
- garnishes sour cream, avocados, cheese, jalapenos
Instructions
- In a food processor, combine the tomatoes, onion, garlic, oregano, chipotles and sugar. Process until smooth.Break the angel hair pasta or thin spaghetti noodles into 1-inch pieces.15 ounces diced canned tomatoes, 1 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 2 teaspoons Mexican oregano, 2 chipotles from canned chipotle adobe, 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- In a dutch oven or heavy soup pot, heat the oil over medium to medium-high heat. Add the 1-inch noodles (the fideo) and cook, stirring frequently, until the pasta starts to turn golden, about 5 minutes. Make sure and keep an eye on the pasta so that it does not burn.2-3 tablespoons oil, 6 ounces angel hair pasta
- Add the tomato mixture and the chicken stock to the pot of toasted noodles. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Cook, uncovered, until the pasta is al dente, about 5 minutes.6 cups chicken stock
- Add the turkey to the pot and cook until heated through. Taste, and add salt and pepper if needed.3 cups chopped turkey
- Serve in bowls with a range of garnishes on the side for people to add.garnishes
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