This Fideuà Recipe is simple and you will need fideos, squids, shrimp, mussels, and vegetables.
Fideuà is a delicious and popular dish that hails from the coastal region of Valencia in Spain. Similar to paella, this dish is made with a unique twist: instead of rice, it uses short, thin noodles called fideos. Typically cooked with seafood such as shrimp, squid, mussels, and clams, fideuà is seasoned with saffron, paprika, and a variety of other spices to create a flavorful and aromatic dish that is beloved by locals and tourists alike. Whether you're looking to impress dinner guests or simply want to try a new and exciting dish, fideuà is a must-try for anyone with an adventurous palate. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at the history and preparation of this delicious Spanish dish, as well as provide a step-by-step recipe that you can try at home.
Fideuà is very similar to paella but instead of rice, we will be using noodles. These noodles can be either thin or thick. For this recipe, I recommend buy a thicker pasta with a longer cooking time. This dish is great for the summer and if you choose to use a large paella pan, you will need a paella heater or simply add the paella pan on a grill. I used a very large saucepan with a cover for this, but feel free to use whatever you prefer.
Check out my Spanish Garlic Shrimp and my Spanish Octopus.
Jump to:
What is Fideuà?
Fideuà is a traditional Spanish dish that originated in the coastal region of Valencia. It is similar to paella, but instead of using rice, it uses short, thin noodles called fideos. Fideuà is typically made with seafood, such as shrimp, squid, mussels, and clams, and is flavored with a variety of spices, including saffron and paprika. It is usually cooked in a large, flat paella pan, which helps to create a crispy, golden crust on the bottom of the dish. Fideuà is a popular dish in many regions of Spain, particularly in the coastal areas where seafood is abundant.
Why you will love this recipe
- Versatile: Fideuà is a versatile dish that can be made with a variety of seafood and spices, making it easy to customize to your personal taste.
- Flavorful: The combination of seafood and aromatic spices such as saffron and paprika create a complex and flavorful dish.
- Unique: Fideuà is a unique dish that is not commonly found in other cuisines, making it a great way to try something new and exciting.
- Easy to prepare: Fideuà is a simple and straightforward dish to prepare, requiring only a few basic ingredients and minimal preparation time.
- Perfect for sharing: Fideuà is traditionally cooked in a large paella pan, making it a perfect dish to share with friends and family.
- Nutritious: Seafood is a great source of protein and essential nutrients, making fideuà a nutritious and satisfying meal.
- A taste of Spain: Fideuà is a beloved dish in Spain, and trying it is a great way to experience the country's rich culinary heritage.
Fideua Recipe Ingredients
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
- Olive oil
- Shrimp
- Mussels
- Squid rings
- Garlic
- Onion
- Bell pepper
- Paprika
- Saffron
- Fideos
- Seafood stock
- Lemon
See recipe card for Fideuà Recipe quantities.
How to make Fideua
In a large saucepan on medium high heat, add olive oil and wait for it to shimmer. Add the fideos and cook until toasted and golden. Remove the fideos and set aside on a plate.
Add more oil if needed and stir in the onion and bell pepper and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the squid and cook for 3-4 minutes, occasionally stirring. Pour in the wine, bring to a boil, and wait for it to evaporate. Pour in the broth and crush the saffron threads and sprinkle into the broth.
Return the noodles back into the pot, as well as the mussels and shrimp. Cook for 10 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente.
Remove the fideua from the burner, cover (if using paella pan, use aluminum foil), and let it rest for 5 minutes.
Hint: The fideo pasta cooking time varies from brand to brand. You must check on the packaging to see how long it takes for your noodles to cook through.
Substitutions
- Seafood: While seafood is traditional in fideuà, you can substitute it with other protein sources such as chicken, chorizo, or even vegetables such as mushrooms, zucchini or bell peppers.
- Fideos: If you cannot find fideos (short, thin noodles), you can substitute them with vermicelli, angel hair pasta, or broken spaghetti.
- Fish or seafood stock: If you don't have fish or seafood stock, you can substitute it with chicken or vegetable stock, or even water with some additional seasoning.
- Saffron: Saffron is a key spice in fideuà, but it can be expensive and hard to find. You can substitute it with turmeric, which will give a similar color to the dish.
- Paprika: If you do not have paprika, you can substitute it with cayenne pepper, chili powder, or a combination of sweet and hot paprika.
Fideua Recipe Variations
- Meat Fideuà: Instead of seafood, use chicken, pork, or chorizo as the protein source. This variation is popular in inland regions of Spain where seafood is less abundant.
- Vegetable Fideuà: For a vegetarian or vegan version, use vegetables such as bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, and mushrooms. Add vegetable broth instead of fish or seafood broth.
- Squid Ink Fideuà: This version of fideuà is made with squid ink, which gives the dish a dark color and unique flavor. Use the same ingredients as a traditional fideuà recipe but substitute squid ink for some of the broth.
- Lobster Fideuà: For a luxurious version, add lobster to the recipe. The lobster meat can be cooked in the broth or added on top of the cooked fideos.
- Mixed Seafood Fideuà: Use a variety of seafood such as shrimp, mussels, squid, and clams to create a mixed seafood fideuà. This variation can be a great way to use up leftover seafood.
- Paella Fideuà: A fusion of two popular Spanish dishes, this recipe combines the technique of cooking paella with the ingredients of fideuà. Use a paella pan instead of a deep pot or pan to create a crispy crust on the bottom.
Check out my Spanish Tortilla Recipe.
Equipment
- Large, deep pan or paella pan: Fideuà is traditionally cooked in a large, deep pan or paella pan, which allows the noodles to cook evenly and develop a crispy crust.
- Wooden spoon or spatula: A wooden spoon or spatula is ideal for stirring the fideuà without breaking the noodles.
- Cutting board and knife: You will need a cutting board and knife to chop vegetables and seafood.
- Garlic press: A garlic press is a handy tool for quickly mincing garlic cloves.
- Measuring cups and spoons: To ensure accurate measurements of ingredients, use measuring cups and spoons.
- Stockpot: You will need a large stockpot to heat the fish or seafood stock.
- Oven mitts: The pan will be hot, so use oven mitts to handle it.
- Serving plates and utensils: Once the fideuà is cooked, you will need plates and utensils for serving.
How to store Fideua
Fideuà is best served fresh, straight from the stove. However, if you have leftover fideuà, you can store it in the refrigerator or freezer for later use.
To store fideuà in the refrigerator, transfer it to an airtight container once it has cooled down. Make sure to refrigerate it within two hours of cooking. Stored properly, it will keep in the refrigerator for up to three days.
To store fideuà in the freezer, transfer it to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. Label the container with the date, and store it in the freezer for up to three months. When ready to eat, defrost it in the refrigerator overnight, and then reheat it in a pan or in the oven.
Fideua Recipe Top tips
- Use a deep pan or paella pan: Fideuà is traditionally cooked in a deep pan or paella pan to allow the noodles to cook evenly and develop a crispy crust. Make sure your pan is deep enough to hold all the ingredients and allow room for stirring.
- Cook the noodles al dente: To avoid mushy noodles, cook the fideos until they are al dente, which means they are cooked but still slightly firm to the bite.
- Use high-quality ingredients: Fideuà is a simple dish that relies on the quality of the ingredients. Use fresh seafood, high-quality olive oil, and aromatic spices for the best flavor.
- Sauté the onions and garlic first: Before adding the seafood and noodles, sauté the onions and garlic in olive oil until they are fragrant and slightly golden. This will enhance the flavor of the dish.
- Add the seafood in stages: Start by adding the seafood that requires the longest cooking time, such as mussels, and then add the shrimp and squid later on. This will ensure that all the seafood is cooked perfectly.
- Use homemade fish or seafood stock: Homemade stock has a richer flavor than store-bought stock and will give your fideuà a more authentic taste.
- Don't stir the fideuà too much: Stirring the fideuà too much can break the noodles and cause them to become mushy. Only stir the fideuà when necessary to avoid this.
- Let the fideuà rest before serving: Once the fideuà is cooked, let it rest for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. This will result in a more flavorful dish.
Fideuà Recipe
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
Description
This Fideuà Recipe dish is simple and you will need fideos, squids, shrimp, mussels, and vegetables.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ pound of shrimp, cleaned and deveined
- 1 pound mussels
- ½ pound of squid rings
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- ½ onion, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 tsp paprika
- A pinch of saffron
- 1 lb thick fideos or spaghetti cut into thirds
- 6 cups hot fish or seafood stock
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- In a large saucepan on medium high heat, add olive oil and wait for it to shimmer. Add the fideos and cook until toasted and golden. Remove the fideos and set aside on a plate.
- Add more oil if needed and stir in the onion and bell pepper and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add the squid and cook for 3-4 minutes, occasionally stirring.
- Pour in the wine, bring to a boil, and wait for it to evaporate. Pour in the broth and crush the saffron threads and sprinkle into the broth.
- Return the noodles back into the pot, as well as the mussels and shrimp.
- Cook for 10 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente.
- Remove the fideua from the burner, cover (if using paella pan, use aluminum foil), and let it rest for 5 minutes.
Notes
- The fideo cooking time varies from brand to brand. You must check on the packaging to see how long it takes for your noodles to cook through.
- Use a deep pan or paella pan: Fideuà is traditionally cooked in a deep pan or paella pan to allow the noodles to cook evenly and develop a crispy crust. Make sure your pan is deep enough to hold all the ingredients and allow room for stirring.
- Cook the noodles al dente: To avoid mushy noodles, cook the fideos until they are al dente, which means they are cooked but still slightly firm to the bite.
- Use high-quality ingredients: Fideuà is a simple dish that relies on the quality of the ingredients. Use fresh seafood, high-quality olive oil, and aromatic spices for the best flavor.
- Sauté the onions and garlic first: Before adding the seafood and noodles, sauté the onions and garlic in olive oil until they are fragrant and slightly golden. This will enhance the flavor of the dish.
- Add the seafood in stages: Start by adding the seafood that requires the longest cooking time, such as mussels, and then add the shrimp and squid later on. This will ensure that all the seafood is cooked perfectly.
- Use homemade fish or seafood stock: Homemade stock has a richer flavor than store-bought stock and will give your fideuà a more authentic taste.
- Don't stir the fideuà too much: Stirring the fideuà too much can break the noodles and cause them to become mushy. Only stir the fideuà when necessary to avoid this.
- Let the fideuà rest before serving: Once the fideuà is cooked, let it rest for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. This will result in a more flavorful dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Spanish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 315.6
- Sugar: 0.1 g
- Sodium: 262.2 mg
- Fat: 6.0 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34.1 g
- Fiber: 0.0 g
- Protein: 29.9 g
- Cholesterol: 187.0 mg
Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Leave a Reply