Sopa de Fideos (Chicken Noodle Soup with Sofrito)

Sofrito is a flavor base made by sautéing onions and garlic in oil. In Latin America, each region has its own variation that incorporates native ingredients; the tomato-based sofrito here is common in Mexico. The key to the color and flavor of this soup is to fry the sofrito in the oil: it's imperative that it sizzles as soon as it hits the pot. (Stand back and use a long spoon!) Read more about the author's connection to this recipe in Soup—and Life—Lessons From My Grandma.

Sopa de Fideos (Chicken Noodle Soup with Sofrito)
Photo: Leigh Beisch
Active Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
35 mins
Servings:
8

Ingredients

  • 1 28-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes

  • 1 cup chopped white onion

  • 6 large cloves garlic

  • ½ cup chopped cilantro

  • 2 teaspoons ancho chile powder

  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano

  • 2 tablespoons canola oil

  • 5 ounces whole-wheat angel hair pasta, broken into 1-inch pieces

  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth

  • 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, each cut into 3 pieces

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 ripe avocado, diced

  • Lime wedges & hot sauce for garnish

Directions

  1. Combine tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro, chile powder, cumin and oregano in a blender. Puree until smooth.

  2. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add pasta and stir constantly until toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tomato mixture (careful, it will splatter). Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add broth, chicken and salt. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to maintain a simmer, and cook until the chicken is cooked through (165°F), 10 to 12 minutes.

  3. Transfer the chicken to a clean cutting board and shred. Return it to the pot. Serve the soup topped with avocado, along with lime wedges and hot sauce, if desired.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

295 Calories
11g Fat
25g Carbs
25g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 295
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 25g 9%
Dietary Fiber 5g 18%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 25g 50%
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 47mg 16%
Sodium 424mg 18%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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