Last Updated on May 10, 2022 by
Are you craving something delicious, savory, and warm? If yes, you should try and create this Fideo loco soup recipe with us! It is detailed below with clear instructions in only four steps! While we will be discussing one way to make this soup, the possibilities are endless!
Once you are complete cooking this Fideo Loco soup recipe, you will have more than enough leftovers. Although you can enjoy this dish anytime, it is especially common during the cold and rainy winter months as a comfort food.
Table of Contents
What Is Fideo Loco?
Fideo with beans and fideo with ground beef are favorite dishes in southern Texas! Before we can dive into how to make fideo loco, we need to understand the history of Fideo loco soup and what it is. This dish is a unique food that is made with three basic ingredients: beef, beans, and delicious flavors!
Although many dishes have old origins, this one does not! Technically, Fideo Loco soup is not Mexican, but a Mexican American dish. This makes sense considering that indigenous people living in Latin America did not naturally have cattle like cows for beef.
Instead, these large animals were brought as cattle from Europe by the Spanish. Because of Spain’s influence, a lot of Mexican food since the 16th century has poultry and cattle as a meat source.
From what we know, the first mention of this Fideo loco soup recipe was in the 1700s. There is a similar dish in Spain, but it uses other ingredients.
How Do You Eat Fideo Loco?
There is no one way to eat or make this Fideo loco soup recipe. For example, you can eat the thick soup or stew with a side of salsa, chips, and hot sauce. Although this is true, it is not uncommon to see others eat this delicious dish alone or with warmed-up tortillas.
Either way, usually you eat fideo loco because there are not a lot of ingredients in the panty. This Austin, TX specialty is great to make when you have leftovers and Fideo pasts.
What You Will Need To Make This Fideo Loco Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp. of Olive oil
Although I prefer to use olive oil because it gives a hint of new and savory flavors, you can substitute it for any oil you would like. It is common to use saffron, sunflower, and vegetable oil in fideo loco.
- 1 Yellow Onion Diced
- 4 cloves of Garlic
- 1tsp of cumin
- 2 tbsp. of taco seasoning
- 2 tsp on chili powder
- 4 Cups of Pinto Beans (cooked). Usually, the best option is to use pinto beans that are freshly made. However, if you do not have the time to cook dry pinto beans at home, you can substitute them for the canned and already cooked version. The flavor, however, does change drastically.
- 8oz of Fideo noodles. Truthfully, you can use any kind of pasta noodle’s in this recipe, but for the iconic look it is best to use Fideo noodles. You can find these noodles at any local grocery store and they are relatively affordable.
- 2lbs of Ground Beef
- 5oz of Queso Fresco
- 1 Green Onion Diced (garnish)
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 3 Serrano Peppers
- 2 Jalapeno Peppers
Equipment
- 1 Large Pot with lid
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Two Bowls
- Potato Peeler
- Stovetop
Step By Step Instructions To Make This Fideo Loco Soup Recipe
Step 1: Brown the Ground Beef
The first step in this Fideo Loco soup recipe is to brown the ground beef. In the large pot, add half of the seasonings, the olive oil, and the ground beef. You should set the heat to a minimum of low and the maximum setting of medium.
Move around and break apart the ground beef as you cook it. It is ready when the internal temperature of the meat is 145 degrees Fahrenheit or there are no more pink or red bits.
Step 2: Add the Vegetables
Once the meat is fully cooked, you can add in the rest of the vegetables. This includes the potatoes and the hot peppers. Add water to the mixture to make sure that the vegetables and the meat do not stick and burn to the bottom of the pan. Boil for a minimum of ten minutes until the vegetables are tender.
Step 3: Add the Beans and Fideo Noodles
After the vegetables are tender, you can then start adding in the pinto beans and fideo noodles. Remember, the beans need to be cooked! Add more water depending on the levels. Sometimes, you can also use chicken or beef broth as the base. Place the lid on top and boil for another ten minutes.
Step 4: Check the Noodles and Serve
How do you know when this fideo loco soup recipe is ready? Once the fideo noodles are tender, you can stop the heat and lower it. If you want to add a smoked flavor, add extra diced peppers and simmer the soup mixture. Serve when it is to your desired tenderness and flavor.
Tips And Tricks On Cooking This Fideo Loco Soup Recipe
This fideo loco soup recipe is easy to follow and replicate! The best thing about this soup is how you can make it your own with leftovers! It is common to have soup noodles, ground beef, and beans in your cabinet, so why not put them all together?
Another tip I have for you is to pre-make about eight servings of pinto beans on your day off. This way you can easily take out a serving in a zip lock bag and warm it up on a stovetop.
Servings and Preparation Time
|
Cook Time |
Preparation Time |
Serving Size |
|
45 Minutes |
10 Minutes |
8 people |
In conclusion, this fideo loco soup recipe is a favorite in my home! I constantly make it when there are leftovers or I am feeling homesick. Although the recipe is technically Tex-Mex because Fideo loco has its origin in Austin, TX it is still considered authentic Mexican American food.
What do you think of this recipe? Were you able to figure out how to make fideo loco? If yes, let us know in the comment section below. We value your feedback! Also, if you know anyone else interested in learning how to make this fideo loco soup recipe, share this article with them!
Fideo Loco Soup Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Large Pot with lid
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Two Bowls
- Potato Peeler
- Stovetop
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp. of Olive oil Although I prefer to use olive oil because it gives a hint of new and savory flavors you can substitute it for any oil you would like. It is common to use saffron, sunflower, and vegetable oil in fideo loco.
- 1 Yellow Onion Diced
- 4 cloves of Garlic
- 1 tsp of cumin
- 2 tbsp. of taco seasoning
- 2 tsp on chili powder
- 4 Cups of Pinto Beans cooked. Usually, the best option is to use pinto beans that are freshly made. However, if you do not have the time to cook dry pinto beans at home, you can substitute them for the canned and already cooked version. The flavor, however, does change drastically.
- 8 oz of Fideo noodles. Truthfully you can use any kind of pasta noodle's in this recipe, but for the iconic look it is best to use Fideo noodles. You can find these noodles at any local grocery store and they are relatively affordable.
- 2 lbs of Ground Beef
- 5 oz of Queso Fresco
- 1 Green Onion Diced garnish
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 3 Serrano Peppers
- 2 Jalapeno Peppers
Instructions
- The first step in this Fideo Loco soup recipe is to brown the ground beef. In the large pot, add half of the seasonings, the olive oil, and the ground beef. You should set the heat to a minimum of low and the maximum setting of medium.
- Move around and break apart the ground beef as you cook it. It is ready when the internal temperature of the meat is 145 degrees Fahrenheit or there are no more pink or red bits.
- Once the meat is fully cooked, you can add in the rest of the vegetables. This includes the potatoes and the hot peppers. Add water to the mixture to make sure that the vegetables and the meat do not stick and burn to the bottom of the pan. Boil for a minimum of ten minutes until the vegetables are tender.
- After the vegetables are tender, you can then start adding in the pinto beans and fideo noodles. Remember, the beans need to be cooked! Add more water depending on the levels. Sometimes, you can also use chicken or beef broth as the base. Place the lid on top and boil for another ten minutes.
- How do you know when this fideo loco soup recipe is ready? Once the fideo noodles are tender, you can stop the heat and lower it. If you want to add a smoked flavor, add extra diced peppers and simmer the soup mixture. Serve when it is to your desired tenderness and flavor.
Notes
- This fideo loco soup recipe is easy to follow and replicate! The best thing about this soup is how you can make it your own with leftovers! It is common to have soup noodles, ground beef, and beans in your cabinet, so why not put them all together?
- Another tip I have for you is to pre-make about eight servings of pinto beans on your day off. This way you can easily take out a serving in a zip lock bag and warm it up on a stovetop.
Casia is a passionate home cook who loves to share her love of Mexican food with the world. She has been cooking since she was a child, helping her grandmother in the kitchen and learning the traditional techniques used to create delicious Mexican dishes. Casia loves to experiment with new ingredients and flavors, always looking for ways to make her dishes even more flavorful. She is also passionate about teaching others about Mexican cuisine and its rich history. When she is not in the kitchen, Casia enjoys exploring new cultures, traveling, and spending time with her family.