Fideus Rossejats (Catalan Toasted Noodles with Pork and Prawns)
Short noodles toasted golden, then simmered in a rich stock with pork and prawns until every strand has soaked up the flavour.
Made with Homemade chicken stock and Spanish sofrito. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time50 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.96 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the olive oil in a wide, shallow pan or paella pan over a medium high heat. Brown the pork cubes for 5 minutes until golden, then lift them out and set aside.
5 min - 2
Add the fideo noodles to the same pan and toast them, stirring constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes until deep golden brown. Watch closely, as they burn quickly. Tip them onto a plate.
- 3
Add your ready made sofrito (see the base recipe) and the paprika to the pan and stir for 1 minute until sizzling.
- 4
Warm the homemade chicken stock (see the base recipe) with the saffron. Return the pork and noodles to the pan and pour in the hot stock. Stir once to level, then simmer without stirring for 10 minutes.
10 min - 5
Nestle the prawns on top and cook for 4 to 5 minutes more, until the stock is absorbed and the noodles are tender with crisp edges underneath. Add a splash of hot water if it dries out too soon.
4 min 30 s - 6
Rest off the heat for 3 minutes. Scatter over the parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Tips
- Toast the noodles to a proper golden brown. This is what gives the dish its nutty, roasted flavour that sets it apart from a plain noodle dish.
- Do not stir after adding the stock, so a crisp golden layer forms on the base of the pan, much loved in Catalonia.
- Use a wide pan so the noodles cook in a thin layer. A deep pan gives soft, soupy noodles.
Storing and freezing
Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days, cooled within 1 to 2 hours. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through. Not suitable for freezing, as the prawns and noodles turn soft.
Questions
What is the difference between fideus rossejats and fideuà?
Both are Catalan noodle dishes. Fideus rossejats toasts the noodles first and cooks them in a small amount of stock until dry. Fideuà is cooked like a seafood paella, with fish stock and no pre-toasting step in many versions.
What can I use instead of fideo noodles?
Break dried vermicelli or angel hair into 2 cm pieces. Check the pack, as many are made from wheat. For gluten free, use gluten free vermicelli or thin rice noodles broken short.
Can I make it without pork?
Yes. Use chicken thigh pieces or leave out the meat and add extra prawns or sliced squid. Cook the chicken for the same browning time before adding the noodles.
More made with homemade chicken stock
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
