Before you cook
Background Recipe story & origin
Fideo seco ('dry fideo') is Mexican sopa seca (dry soup), a course in traditional comidas corridas (meal services) where soup liquid is absorbed by starch - here, thin noodles called fideos. The dish has Spanish origins; 'fideos' are vermicelli-like noodles brought by colonizers. Mexican preparation toasts the dry noodles in oil until golden, then simmers them in tomato-chile sauce until liquid absorbs - similar to making rice. The result is flavorful noodles with slightly crispy edges. Fideo seco appears at family meals, usually after broth-based sopa aguada and before the main course. Variations add vegetables, chicken, or chorizo. The dish represents Mexico's comida corrida tradition and the concept of 'sopa seca' - unique to Mexican cuisine, where 'soup' can mean pasta or rice cooked in flavored liquid. Fideo is comfort food, inexpensive and satisfying.
Before you start Equipment you'll need
- large skillet — Provides high heat surface for cooking and searing ingredients properly
Safety Safety & allergen notes
- Use caution with hot surfaces and oils.
Non-negotiables Rules for success
-
Toast the noodles
Heat oil in skillet. Toast fideo, stirring constantly, until deep golden brown. Careful not to burn....
-
Make the sauce
Blend tomatoes, chipotle, onion, garlic. Fry in remaining oil 5 minutes. Add broth and salt.
-
Cook the fideo
Add toasted noodles to sauce. Stir, reduce heat to low. Cover and cook 10-12 minutes until noodles a...
Prep Get set first
About 10 min of prep
- Prepare large skillet
This recipe takes about 30 minutes total.
Ingredients
Instructions
Unlock Grouped Step Actions
Plus members get tap-to-check action steps and live ingredient swaps for this recipe.
-
Toast the noodles
Heat oil in skillet. Toast fideo, stirring constantly, until deep golden brown. Careful not to burn. Remove and drain.
-
Make the sauce
Blend tomatoes, chipotle, onion, garlic. Fry in remaining oil 5 minutes. Add broth and salt.
-
Cook the fideo
Add toasted noodles to sauce. Stir, reduce heat to low. Cover and cook 10-12 minutes until noodles are tender and liquid absorbed.
-
Top with crema
Fluff with fork. Serve topped with crema and crumbled queso fresco.