Fideo, known as Sopa de Fideo or Fideo Soup, is a traditional Mexican dish that has thin noodles cooked in a broth with lots of seasonings. It is a simple soup that is popular in Mexican households. It is often served as a quick and easy meal. Sopa de fideo is a unique dish in that it’s one of the very few Mexican dishes formed around pasta.
Our guest for “Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is Laura Gutiérrez. Laura currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer at the United Community Center (UCC) in Milwaukee, WI. Laura shows us how she makes Fideo and Cheese Quesadillas.
Laura returned to UCC after many years here previously in a variety of roles including Assistant Principal and Director of Instruction at Bruce Guadalupe Community School. She also was a classroom teacher and a Drug Prevention Outreach worker when she was just a teen at UCC’s New Beginnings Clinic. She is on the list of the Top 100 Powerbrokers in Milwaukee.
You can also listen to the podcast version of this interview and cooking episode
Sopa de Fideo
Sopa de Fideo is a versatile soup. Some variations of the recipe could include vegetables, cooked chicken, or other ingredients.
Fideos means “noodles” in Spanish. But the word refers to a particular kind of noodle—short and golden, with vermicelli-like thinness—as well as to specific dishes.
Traditional fideo noodles come one of two ways: as long noodles dried into little nests or short noodles that resemble cut-up spaghetti, around an inch long.
Fideo Noodles
Aside from the textbook definition of fideo as a thin, straight noodle, many Mexican families, think of fideos as all different shaped noodles that can be used in sopa de fideo. Shapes like estrellas (stars), letras (letters), semillas de melon (melon seeds) and conchitas (little shells).
Sopa de Fideo is versatile, and variations of the recipe may include the addition of vegetables, cooked chicken, or other ingredients. It’s a delicious and comforting soup that’s perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.
Cheese Quesadillas
We serve this fideo with Cheese Quesadillas, which is a popular Mexican dish. It is a simple yet delicious combination of melted cheese sandwiched between two tortillas. The dish is easy to prepare and can be a snack, appetizer, or even a quick meal.
Cheese quesadillas are appreciated for their simplicity, versatility, and the gooey, melted goodness of the cheese. They make for a quick and satisfying snack or meal and can be easily customized with additional ingredients to suit individual tastes.
Choose the Right Cheese
The key to a perfect cheese quesadilla lies in selecting the right cheese. While traditional choices like cheddar and Monterey Jack are excellent, consider experimenting with a blend of cheeses for a richer flavor profile.
While flour tortillas are the standard choice for quesadillas, consider upgrading to corn tortillas for a more authentic touch. Corn tortillas provide a slightly nutty flavor and a firmer texture, enhancing the overall experience of your cheese quesadilla.
Serving Fideo and Quesadillas
Take your cheese quesadilla to the next level by incorporating flavorful extras. Add sautéed onions and bell peppers for a touch of sweetness and crunch. Diced tomatoes, jalapeños, or black olives can contribute a burst of freshness and heat. Don’t forget to experiment with herbs like cilantro or a sprinkle of cumin to infuse your quesadilla with additional layers of taste.
Achieving the perfect balance of crispy and gooey is crucial when making cheese quesadillas. Start by heating a non-stick skillet or camal over medium heat. Place one tortilla in the pan and add a generous layer of your cheese blend, ensuring an even distribution. Top with your chosen extras and place a second tortilla on top.
Cook until the bottom tortilla is golden brown and the cheese begins to melt. Carefully flip the quesadilla using a spatula and continue cooking until the other side is equally crisp and the cheese is fully melted. This technique ensures a satisfying crunch with a molten cheese center.
Enhance the overall experience by serving your cheese quesadillas with delectable dipping sauces. Classic options like salsa, guacamole, or sour cream complement the flavors perfectly. For a unique twist, try a chipotle mayo or a cilantro-lime crema to add a zesty kick.
Elevating your cheese quesadilla game is a delightful journey of flavors and textures. With the right cheese blend, upgraded tortillas, flavorful extras, perfect cooking techniques, and tantalizing dipping sauces, you’ll transform this simple dish into a culinary masterpiece. So, gather your ingredients, fire up the skillet, and treat yourself to an irresistible cheese quesadilla experience!
Sopa de Fideo & Cheese Quesadillas
Equipment
- A griddle or comal
Materials
Sopa de Fideo Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 8 oz fideo or angel hair pasta, broken into 1 in. pieces
- 2 8 oz cans Tomato sauce
- ½ onion
- 3 garlic gloves peeled
- 1 bunch cilantro
- 5 cups water
- Knorr Chicken bouillon to taste
- Sour Cream
Cheese Quesadillas Ingredients
- 4 flour tortillas 8 inches, warmed
- 1.5 cups Shredded cheese of your choice
- 1 jalapeno sliced
- 1 Roma tomato diced
- ½ onion diced
- 1 tbsp butter
- Sour cream to top
Instructions
Sopa de Fideo Instructions
- Set a large pot to medium heat and add oil.
- Once the oil is hot add broken up noodles and toss to coat in oil.
- Continue to cook until noodles are golden brown, about 3 minutes.
- While the noodles are browning, place the tomato sauce, onion, garlic, ½ cilantro bunch and 4 cups of the water in the blender and process until smooth.
- Add this mixture directly into the golden noodles still in the hot pot. Stir to prevent the noodles from sticking.
- Bring soup to a boil. Stir often.
- Season with chicken bouillon.
- Serve with a dollop of sour cream or add as much sour cream as you like.
Cheese Quesadillas Instructions
- Set comal to medium heat for 3 minutes.
- Use butter and spread on comal
- Add one flour tortilla to comal.
- Add shredded cheese, diced tomato, onion and jalapeno slices.
- Place another flour tortilla on top of toppings and cover with a lid that covers flour tortilla for 3 min. or until browned.
- Flip quesadilla for 3 min or until browned.
- Remove from comal and use pizza cutter to cut quesadilla.
- Top with sour cream.
Nutrition
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Fun interview with Laura and great recipe for fideo
I’ve never actually made the sopa, even though I make a lot of Mexican dishes. Thanks!
Lovely Mexican dish for me to try soon. Thanks Charlie!
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