Sopa Seca de Fideo con Birria (Dry Noodle Soup with Birria Broth)
Toasted vermicelli simmered in birria broth until it soaks it all up, topped with shredded beef and crumbled cheese.
Made with Birria adobo and consomme. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time3 hr
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £3.98 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
Put the beef and salt in a pot with 300 ml of your ready made birria adobo and consomme (see the base recipe) and the water. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 2 hours until the beef shreds.
120 min - 2
Shred the beef and keep it moist with a few spoonfuls of broth. Strain the cooking liquid into a jug and mix with the remaining 250 ml of birria broth.
- 3
Heat the oil in a wide pan over a medium heat. Fry the fideo, stirring constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes until golden brown.
3 min 30 s - 4
Pour in the hot broth, stir once and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes until the noodles have absorbed almost all the liquid.
7 min - 5
Stir in half the beef and leave to sit, covered, for 3 minutes.
- 6
Serve topped with the rest of the beef, the cheese, onion and coriander, with lime on the side.
Tips
- Brown the fideo evenly. It gives a nutty flavour and helps the noodles stay separate.
- Add the hot broth carefully, as it will spit when it hits the hot oil.
- The noodles continue to absorb liquid as they sit, so serve quickly or add a splash of water.
- Use gluten free vermicelli if needed, and check the label.
Storing and freezing
Keep in the fridge for up to 2 days. Add a splash of water when reheating until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
What is sopa seca?
Sopa seca means dry soup. It is a Mexican dish where pasta, rice or noodles are cooked in a small amount of broth until absorbed. Fideo, short thin vermicelli, is the classic pasta.
Where do I buy fideo?
World food shops stock it. Use thin vermicelli or broken angel hair pasta.
Can I use rice noodles?
Rice vermicelli (gluten free) cooks faster, so reduce the simmering time to 3 to 4 minutes. Do not brown it first.
More made with birria adobo and consomme
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.