How to make vegan Sopa de Fideo With Quinoa

Photo by: www.budgetbytes.com

Sopa de Fideo is a staple in my home. My daughters love this simple soup, easily made with a few ingredients. I have to be extra, and used this recipe with a few changes. Of course my children prefer the simple ingredient version, and I usually only make that version, but Momma needs her taste buds satisfied sometimes. Without further ado:

INGREDIENTS

• 1 medium brown onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped and minced
• 3 tomatoes, diced
• 4 Tbsp ghee or grapeseed oil 
• 8 oz uncooked Vermicelli/Fideo noodles
• 1/2 tsp cumin 
• 1/4 tsp oregano 
• 6 cups water 
• 1/2 c. quinoa
• Juice from 1 lime 
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro and parsley, chopped, separated into 2
• 1 avocado (optional)

DIRECTIONS

• Add oil and Vermicelli (split in half)/Fideo noodles to soup pot and heat on medium low for 1 minute. Stir constantly. It will brown very quickly, so stir, stir, stir.
• Add onions, garlic, tomatoes and spices. Stir for another 3 -5 minutes or until fideo is golden brown. Do not burn the pasta, or do and start all over, no big deal.
• Add water, and quinoa. Stir and cover.
• Bring to a boil on high. Cover. Simmer on reduce heat to low for 15 minutes.
• Lime juice and chopped parsley may be added to the soup 5 minutes before soup comes to an end. 
• Let sit for 5 minutes.
• Serve with avocado, lime and cilantro on the side.

This is an easy and quick mealtime solution and adding quinoa makes it protein rich and nourishing. This stores and freezes well. I like to re-heat on the stove in a pot and add water, but microwaving works. This is definitely one of my comfort meals and I usually adjust flavors depending on what my body may need at that moment. I like to use parsley and cilantro for the additional cleansing factor and to balance the tomato. I've also been known to toss in some cashew cream, but maybe that will be an upgrade to this recipe and another blog post. 

How do you take your sopa de fideo?