Craving a taste of authentic Mexican comfort food? Move over rice, and make way for Fideo Food! This traditional Mexican pasta dish, often lovingly referred to as “Mexican spaghetti,” is a breeze to prepare and requires just a handful of simple ingredients. Fideo, in its various forms, has been a beloved staple in Mexican households for generations, offering a heartwarming and flavorful side dish (or even a light meal) that’s sure to please.
Just like many cherished family recipes, every Mexican family boasts their own unique twist on fideo. You’ll find variations across different regions and households, with some preferring a brothier, soup-like consistency, while others lean towards fideo seco, a drier version. In my own kitchen, I’ve even been known to use broken angel hair pasta as a convenient substitute for traditional vermicelli, achieving equally delicious results. The beauty of fideo food lies in its forgiving nature – there’s no single “right” way to create this comforting dish.
The foundation of any great fideo food recipe is vermicelli pasta. This thin pasta is readily available in most grocery stores, from local supermarkets to larger chains like Walmart and Target. You can also easily find it online through retailers like Amazon or specialty stores. As mentioned, if you’re in a pinch, broken angel hair pasta or even spaghetti can work wonderfully as substitutes.
The cooking process for fideo food shares similarities with making Mexican rice, but with a more relaxed approach. Fideo food is wonderfully low-maintenance. Precise water-to-pasta ratios aren’t crucial, and it’s quite difficult to go wrong. Adding a little extra water results in a soupier fideo, perfect for colder days. Slightly less water yields the drier fideo seco, ideal as a side to tacos or enchiladas. Both variations are equally satisfying and can be enjoyed as a simple side or a light meal on their own.
Next time you’re planning a Mexican feast and searching for the perfect side dish, step away from the usual rice and explore the delightful world of fideo food. It’s just as quick and easy to prepare as Mexican rice, but offers a delightful change of pace and texture. I promise, you won’t even miss the rice! To transform fideo into a more substantial dish, simply ladle it into a bowl, crumble some queso fresco on top, and add a spoonful of your favorite salsa. Serve with warm flour tortillas, and you have a simple, delicious, and comforting meal that’s perfect for any night of the week.
Print Recipe
Fideo Recipe
This fideo food recipe is the perfect side dish to complement any Mexican meal.
Course: Side Dish, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: fideo food, mexican fideo, fideo recipe, mexican pasta
Ingredients
- 1 (7.5 oz) package fideo or vermicelli pasta, or angel hair pasta, broken into small pieces
- 1/4 large onion, chopped
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 tsp Sazon seasoning (optional, but recommended for authentic flavor)
- 2 tbsp chicken bouillon powder
- 5 cups water (or for richer flavor, substitute with 5 cups chicken broth)
- Cooking oil
Instructions
- Bring water or chicken broth to a boil in a pot.
- In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat.
- Add chopped onion and sauté for a few minutes until softened. Add fideo pasta and brown, stirring frequently to prevent burning, until lightly golden and fragrant. This toasting step is key to developing the fideo’s flavor.
- Add chicken bouillon and Sazon (if using) to the boiling water, stirring to dissolve.
- Pour tomato sauce and the seasoned boiling water or broth into the pot with the browned fideo. Stir well to combine and season with salt to taste, if needed.
- Cover the Dutch oven or saucepan with a lid and reduce heat to low. Simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked through and has absorbed most of the liquid.
- If you prefer a soupier fideo, add a little more water or broth during the simmering process.
Recipe Notes
For an authentic touch, look for Sazon seasoning with culantro and achiote. It can often be found in the international aisle of grocery stores, at Walmart, Target, or online. Mexican specialty stores are also great places to find Sazon and other authentic ingredients.
