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When I think comfort food, this dish often comes to mind. Fideo con Carne is made up of vermecilli noodles, ground beef, and potatoes all swimming in a savory tomato sauce.
It’s a winning combination for anyone’s tastebuds.
- Toast the fideo in oil until golden brown. About 2-3 minutes.
- Next, remove the toasted fideo from the pot and set aside until ready to use.
Is Vermicelli the same as fideo? Yes.
Vermicelli is a type of pasta. It is used in some of Mexico’s most beloved dishes like Sopa de Fideo and Fideo Seco.
In all of these recipes, the fideo is toasted lightly in oil. This helps develop the flavors in this dish.
We love our pasta dishes in Mexico! Also see: Espagueti a la Crema and Espagueti Verde.
- Add oil and ground beef. Cook until brown. About 4-5 minutes.
- Add potatoes, oregano, garlic, and onion to the pot.
- Add jalapeno, if using.
The jalapeno is completely optional. It will only provide flavor in this dish, not necessarily spice.
To make this dish spicy, add more jalapeno or add a diced chipotle pepper in adobo. Another spicy option, serve with Chile de Arbol Salsa or Chipotle Salsa.
What part of the cow is ground beef?
Ground beef is ground round steak. It is lean and tender.
80/20 ground beef is recommended for this recipe. That means, 80% lean beef to 20% fat.
- Stir to combine.
- Cook this for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
How to thicken this ground beef stew?
The starch in the potatoes will help thicken the sauce.
Don’t worry about the potatoes not being fully cooked either. They will cook completely after the liquid gets added.
Fideo con Carne is a hearty, Mexican beef stew similar to Birria de Res, Caldillo Durangueño, Frijoles Charros
- Next, add the oregano, tomato sauce, water, and beef bouillon.
- Cook for 10 minutes.
Swap out options:
- Use beef broth instead of water and bouillon.
- Instead of the tomato sauce, use water and tomato bouillon.
How to make Homemade Tomato Sauce: 2 tomatoes, 1 cup water, ¼ onion, 1 garlic clove, ½ teaspoon salt. Blend until smooth.
Can you use chicken broth with beef stew?
Beef broth is ideal, but if you don’t have it, you can use chicken broth in a pinch. It’s also much better to use chicken broth over water.
- Return the toasted fideo to the pot.
- Cook 8-10 minutes. The sauce will thicken up.
For a thicker sauce, cook 10 minutes.
For a thinner sauce, cook 7-8 minutes.
If you are left with leftovers, the Fideo con Carne will get thick.
Word to the Wise: Make sure the potatoes are done before serving. Poke the potatoes with a fork. If the fork goes through the potato, they are ready.
It means the exact same thing.
How Long Does Fideo con Carne Last?
It lasts up to 4 days in the fridge. Fideo loses its texture in the freezer. That’s why freezing this Mexican recipe is not recommended.
Fideo con Carne is a satisfying and tasty stew. Top with sour cream, cheese, avocado slices, and/or pickled jalapenos. Hope you enjoy!
Fideo con Carne
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon olive oil (divided)
- 1 7oz fideo package
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 ½ tspn salt
- ¼ tspn pepper
- 1 large russet potato peeled and diced
- ¼ onion diced
- 1 garlic clove finely minced
- 1 diced jalapeno (optional)
- ½ tspn oregano
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 4 cups water
- 2 tablespoon beef bouillon
Instructions
- In a large stock pot, heat 2 tablespoons of oil.
- Add the fideo pasta.
- Toast the pasta, stirring constantly. About 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the pasta from the pot. Set aside until ready to use.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil to the same stock pot.
- Add the ground beef, salt, and pepper.
- Cook the beef. About 4-5 minutes.
- Add the potato, onion, garlic, jalapeno (if using)
- Cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the oregano, tomato sauce, water, and beef bouillon.
- Cover and cook 10 minutes.
- Return the toasted fideo to the pot.
- Cover and cook for 7-8 minutes for a thinner stew.
- Or cook for 10 minutes for a thicker stew.
Video
Notes
- Use beef broth instead of water and bouillon.
- Instead of the tomato sauce, use water and tomato bouillon.
It lasts up to 4 days in the fridge. Fideo loses its texture in the freezer. That’s why freezing this Mexican recipe is not recommended.
Thank you for this recipe. It is delicious. I didn’t have tomato sauce either so I blended a can of diced tomatoes with the onion and garlic. I have three Mexican American children and I try Mexican recipes all the time to keep them connected to their heritage. One of them loves fideos like those her family made and she loved this.
I love that! Food is a great way to connect with the Mexican culture. So glad your family liked this recipe. 🙂