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Fideo Seco Mexicano

by Lola Dweck
If you’re looking for the best Fideo Seco recipe, look no further. Fideo Seco is a comforting Mexican pasta dish inspired by my travels to Oaxaca. In this recipe, fideo noodles are toasted in oil to enhance their rich, nutty flavor, then slowly simmered in a luscious tomato broth infused with guajillo peppers.
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 8 servings
Calories 252 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • ½ onion
  • 3 medium garlic cloves, mashed
  • 1 pound tomatoes (about 3-4 tomatoes)
  • 3 dry guajillo peppers (or 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce)
  • 3 tablespoons oil
  • 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 14 ounces fideo noodles
  • salt, to taste

OPTIONAL GARNISHES

  • avocado, sliced or cubed
  • red onion, sliced or diced
  • fresh cilantro
  • crema Mexicana
  • queso fresco, crumbled

Instructions
 

  • Make flavorful tomato sauce. Roughly chop tomatoes and onions. Peel and smash the garlic cloves. Toast guajillo peppers on a comal or flat pan over medium heat until they become fragrant, for about 15 seconds on each side. Add ingredients to a blender and process on medium setting until completely smooth, for about 60 seconds. This should yield about 2.5 cups of sauce.
  • Toast fideo noodles. Prepare a heavy-bottom pot with a thin layer of oil over low to medium heat. Once hot (the oil must be hot when you add the noodles!), add the noodles and cook for about 5 minutes. You may need to reduce heat to the lowest setting to avoid burning the noodles. Be sure to stir frequently with a spatula to prevent the noodles from toasting too quickly. They should toast evenly, turning a mix of light golden brown and deeper brown when ready.
  • Add sauce to noodles. Add the tomato mixture to the noodles and sauté together until the liquid is fully absorbed and the mixture turns a deeper orange-red color, for about 5 minutes.
    PRO TIP: This step is essential. If you add the broth to raw tomato sauce, this will result in a raw tomato tasting broth. Sautéing it until it reduces completely ensures that it is cooked and adds another layer of flavor.
  • Add broth and simmer. Add chicken or vegetable broth and bring to a boil over medium-high heat until most of the liquid is absorbed and you can begin to see the pasta, for about 5 minutes. 
    Next, adjust heat to lowest setting, taste and adjust for salt if necessary, and cover. Simmer for an additional 20 minutes or until all of the liquid is absorbed. Once liquid is absorbed, uncover, mix noodles with a large cooking spoon and cover once again for an additional 10 minutes, or until ready to serve.
  • Garnish, serve and enjoy. Like many Mexican dishes, fideo seco is one that is best served with all of the fun garnishes. A few of my favorites include: fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, thinly sliced red onion, crema Mexicana, and crumbled queso fresco. 

A Note from Lola

Only garnish what you're eating!

I typically only garnish the entire pot if I’m hosting a crowd and know that it’s going to finish, otherwise I just let everyone add what they like so that I can store the leftovers without the fresh garnishes.
 

FAQs

Where can I buy fideo noodles? 

Most Mexican grocery stores carry an infinite variety of Mexican pastas, including fideo. You may also be able to find it in the Hispanic food aisle or your local grocery store (I have even found it at my Super Target in the suburbs). It typically costs no more than $1 per 7-ounce bag. Talk about a budget meal!

Can I use canned tomato sauce for this recipe?

No. It doesn’t provide the same flavor necessary to make this dish shine, but like I mentioned above, you can use canned whole or diced tomatoes in place of the fresh tomatoes to make your sauce.

Can I make fideo seco ahead of time?

Yes! You can definitely make it ahead of time and reheat it later. Just store the cooked fideo in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, then reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop. Avoid garnishing until you are ready to serve.

How do I prevent the noodles from sticking together?

Be sure to stir the noodles frequently while toasting them in the skillet.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 252kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 422mgPotassium: 209mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 822IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg
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