Green Noodles Mexico: A Spicy and Tasty Mexican Pasta Recipe
You might think of tacos, enchiladas, and salsas when you think of Mexican food. Nonetheless, there is a lesser-known Mexican pasta meal that blends Italian pasta with typical Mexican ingredients: The Spanish term for green noodles is Fideos Verdes. With the addition of fresh veggies, Mexican herbs, and spices, this recipe puts a distinctive twist on pasta.
We’ll go into great detail about green noodles from Mexico in this blog, including what they are, how to prepare them, and why this dish is the ideal combination of Italian and Mexican cooking.
What Are Fideos Verdes, or Green Noodles?
A typical Mexican pasta meal, green noodles or fideos verdes, is cooked with a combination of green vegetables, herbs, and a fresh, zesty sauce. Ingredients such as tomatillos, cilantro, spinach, and jalapeños are combined together to make a colorful, savory sauce that covers the noodles, giving fideos verdes its “green” component.
Although spaghetti or any other type of pasta can be used, this recipe is typically made using fideos, which are short, thin noodles frequently used in Mexican cookery. The meal has a distinct, fresh flavor that is acidic and salty since the pasta is cooked in a salsa verde (green sauce) prepared from the combined veggies and herbs.
Here’s a Recipe Card for Green Noodles from Mexico (Fideos Verdes):
| Recipe Name | Green Noodles from Mexico (Fideos Verdes) |
|---|---|
| Servings | 4 servings |
| Preparation Time | 10 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 20 minutes |
| Total Time | 30 minutes |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Fideos (or any pasta of your choice) | 400g (14oz) |
| Olive oil or vegetable oil | 2 tbsp |
| Onion (chopped) | 1 medium |
| Garlic (minced) | 3 cloves |
| Tomatillos (husked and chopped) | 3-4 medium |
| Jalapeño (optional, for spice) | 1-2 (adjust to taste) |
| Cilantro (fresh) | 1 cup |
| Spinach (optional, for color) | 1/2 cup |
| Vegetable or chicken broth | 2 cups |
| Salt | To taste |
| Pepper | To taste |
| Lime juice | 1 lime |
| Cotija cheese or queso fresco (for garnish) | As desired |
Instructions:
| Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Prepare the Salsa Verde: Blend the tomatillos, cilantro, jalapeños, spinach (optional), onion, garlic, and lime juice in a blender or food processor until smooth. Add a little broth or water if needed. Season with salt and pepper to taste. |
| 2 | Cook the Pasta: In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the fideos (or other pasta) according to package instructions. Drain and set aside, reserving a small cup of pasta water. |
| 3 | Sauté the Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Pour in the prepared salsa verde and let it simmer for 5-7 minutes. |
| 4 | Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked fideos to the skillet with the salsa verde. Stir to combine, ensuring the pasta is well-coated with the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of reserved pasta water or broth to adjust the consistency. |
| 5 | Serve: Garnish the green noodles with crumbled cotija cheese or queso fresco and a little extra cilantro. Serve hot and enjoy! |
Notes:
- Protein Options: Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or crumbled ground beef to make the dish more filling.
- Spice Level: Adjust the amount of jalapeño to make it as mild or spicy as you prefer.
- Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat with a splash of broth or water to keep the sauce creamy.
Enjoy your vibrant, flavorful fideos verdes for a quick and satisfying meal!
Important Components of Green Noodles (Fideos Verdes)
The use of flavorful, fresh ingredients that are essential to Mexican cooking is what makes green noodles so appealing. What you’ll need to prepare this delectable dish is as follows:
1. Pasta or Fideos: –
Fideos: Traditionally, fideos verdes are made with these thin, short noodles, but you may use whatever pasta you like, such as spaghetti or fusilli.
2. Green Sauce (Salsa Verde):
Usually, tomatillos, cilantro, and other fresh herbs are used to make the sauce’s foundation. The noodles’ rich flavor and vivid color come from the green sauce.
The distinctive sour flavor of salsa verde is derived from the green, tart fruits known as tomatillos.
Cilantro: An essential herb in Mexican cooking, it gives the sauce a crisp, slightly spicy flavor.
Jalapeños: For a little spiciness and heat. Depending on how much spice you can handle, change the amount.
- Onion: Gives the salsa verde depth and sweetness.
Garlic: For a savory, aromatic foundation.
Lime juice: Balances the sauce by adding brightness and acidity.
Spinach (optional): For added nourishment and a splash of green.
3. Additional Ingredients: Chicken or vegetable broth:
This adds flavor and moisture to the dish by thinning the sauce and cooking the pasta.
Vegetable oil or olive oil: Used to sauté the noodles and vegetables.
To season the dish to taste, add salt and pepper.
- Cheese (optional): For extra flavor and richness, sprinkle on some queso fresco or cotija cheese.
How to Prepare Fideos Verdes, or Green Noodles
The process of making green noodles is quite easy and consists of making the green salsa, cooking the pasta, and then combining everything. This is a detailed recipe for making this colorful dish at home.
Ingredients: – 400g (14 oz) fideos (or your preferred spaghetti or noodle)
Two tablespoons of olive oil or vegetable oil
- 1 medium chopped onion – 3 minced garlic cloves – 3-4 husked and chopped tomatillos – 1-2 jalapeños (modify to your preferred level of spice)
A one cup of fresh cilantro
spinach (optional, for added green color) – 1/2 cup
Two cups of chicken or veggie broth – salt and pepper to taste – lemon juice (for extra tang)
For garnish, use queso fresco or cotija cheese.
Green Noodles (Fideos Verdes): Why You’ll Love Them
- Vibrant, Fresh taste: The dish’s distinctively Mexican taste profile is bright, fresh, and tangy due to the addition of tomatillos, cilantro, and lime.
- Comfortable and Hearty: The bright green sauce makes green noodles light and refreshing while still being comfortable and satisfying, much like any good pasta dish.
- Healthy and Nutritious: This meal is full with vitamins and antioxidants thanks to the use of spinach, cilantro, and tomatillos.
- Adaptable: This dish can be made in a variety of ways. By varying the quantity of jalapeños, adding other vegetables like zucchini or corn, or even topping it with grilled chicken or shrimp for extra protein, you may change the amount of spice.
- Easy and Fast: fideos verdes may be prepared in less than 30 minutes, making it an ideal midweek supper or an enjoyable dish to serve at family get-togethers.
Concluding Remarks
Mexican green noodles, also known as fideos verdes, are the ideal combination of traditional Mexican flavors with Italian pasta. It’s a fresh, filling, and flavorful dish with a zesty green sauce prepared from tomatillos, cilantro, and a little spice. fideos verdes is the ideal option if you want to try a tasty Mexican twist or are searching for a new way to eat pasta.
In addition to its eye-catching green hue, this meal is bursting with savory, rich tastes that will make your taste buds sing. Green noodles are a pleasant and distinctive addition to your culinary arsenal, whether you want to eat them by themselves or with protein and veggies.
Why not try a variation on the classic the next time you have a pasta craving? Fideos verdes are a quick, nutritious, and delicious way to add some spiciness to your food!
1. What are fideos verdes?
2. Can I use regular spaghetti instead of fideos?
3. Is fideos verdes spicy?
4. Can I make fideos verdes ahead of time?
5. Can I add protein to fideos verdes?
Grilled chicken: Sliced or shredded chicken complements the tangy green sauce perfectly.
Shrimp: Lightly sautéed shrimp add a seafood twist to the dish.
Ground beef or chorizo: For a heartier version, you can cook ground beef or crumbled chorizo and mix it into the pasta.
You can also add beans (black beans or pinto beans) for a vegetarian protein option.
