Fideo Soup

This hearty Fideo Soup is a flavorful twist on traditional soups, packed with tender beef or chicken, fresh veggies, and creamy noodles. Spices like cumin and oregano add a warm, comforting flavor, making it a perfect meal for a chilly evening or a soothing pick-me-up any time of the year.

Ingredients

• 1 lb beef or chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large carrot, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (15 oz) red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 4 cups beef broth
• 8 oz fideo noodles
• Shredded cheese, for serving (optional)
• Sour cream, for serving (optional)
• Fresh cilantro, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the beef or chicken over medium-high heat, about 5 minutes.

Drain excess fat.

Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, chopped carrot, and chopped celery to the pot.

Cook until the vegetables are tender, about 5-7 minutes.

Stir in the diced tomatoes, red kidney beans, ground cumin, dried oregano, and ground cayenne pepper.

Cook for 1-2 minutes.

Add the beef broth to the pot, bringing to a boil.

Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the flavors have melded together.

While the soup is simmering, cook the fideo noodles according to package instructions and set aside.

Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste.

To serve, place some noodles in a bowl, ladle the hot soup over the noodles, and top with shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro, if desired.

Notes

You can use beef or chicken for this recipe, or a combination of both if you prefer. If using chicken, you may want to adjust the cooking time in the first step.

Make sure to not overcrowd the pot when browning the meat, cook in batches if necessary.

Also, be careful when handling hot pots and sharp objects. You can customize the level of spiciness to your liking by adding more or less cayenne pepper.

If you don’t have fideo noodles, you can substitute with other short, thin noodles like linguine or angel hair.

If you want a thicker soup, you can simmer it for a longer period or add a little cornstarch or flour to thicken it. For a creamier soup, add more sour cream or try adding some heavy cream.

You can make this recipe in advance, just refrigerate or freeze the soup and noodles separately and assemble when ready to serve.

This recipe makes 4 servings, but feel free to adjust the ingredient quantities as needed.

Nutrional Value

• Calories: 520
• Protein: 37g
• Fat: 24g
• + Saturated Fat: 8g
• Carbohydrates: 40g
• + Fiber: 6g
• Sugar: 6g
• Sodium: 650mg
• Cholesterol: 60mg