Fide soup (Fithe soup) (Σούπα φιδέ)

The simplest of Greek soups. Fide soup is made with small pasta that resembles vermicelli or broken up angel hair pasta. It is cooked simply in water with some olive oil. Season with salt and top it with some grated mizithra cheese for added flavour if desired.

Fide soup

Growing up Greek, our chicken noodle soup was called fide. To be honest, it was a little different than your traditional chicken noodle soup; for one thing, it had no chicken. It also had no chicken broth, no vegetables and no herbs. In fact, fide (also spelled fithe) is nothing more than a noodle soup, cooked in water, flavoured with olive oil, sometimes sprinkled with a bit of mizithra, and ready to comfort every bit of your soul.

Fide soup

Why I love this recipe

Our kitchen growing up always had a bag of these thin, dry noodles in the pantry. As slim as angel hair pasta (actually, maybe even thinner), fide was always at the ready to soothe a sore belly or aching throat, to comfort a hurt heart, or to quickly satisfy the need for something warm and simple. The sound of my mother breaking the thin bundle of uncooked fide noodles apart in her hand still makes me feel cared for, and loved. Even today, if I am speaking to my mom on the phone and mention that someone in the house may be coming down with a cold, her first question is, “Ehete fide?” (“Do you have fide?”). Before I can answer that, yes, she has taught us well, I can hear her rummaging in her own kitchen, knowing that if I had run out of this magic noodle my Baba would be sent over to make a special delivery.

Key ingredients

Fide This thin pasta is rolled into ball or little packs. Prior to cooking it for this soup you break the pasta in your hand.

Water Regular tap water is fine – filtered is even better if you have it.

Olive oil I use Greek olive oil here and in all my cooking. I love the flavour and fragrance.

Mizithra cheese Mizithra is a hard Greek cheese made of sheep and / or goat’s milk. It is quite unique in flavour and worth seeking out.

Salt Season to taste.

How to make it

Step 1
Bring the water to a boil in a medium sized pot.

Step 2
While the water is boiling, break the fide apart in your hands so that it is broken into little pieces. When the water has come to a boil, add the salt and the fide to it. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes.

Step 3
Add the olive oil to the pot, stir the fide, and cook for an additional 5 minutes.

Step 4
Serve the fide soup with grated mizithra on the side.

Recipe substitutions

If you cannot find actual fide (fithe) noodles, you can use vermicelli or angel hair pasta that you break into small pieces, about 1 inch in length.

If you cannot find hard mizithra cheese then a good alternative is to use equal parts grated parmesan and grated romano cheeses.

Cooking tips and helpful hints

Where to find fide noodles

Fide noodles can be found in any Greek or Mediterranean market, as well as online.

Do not overcook your noodles

If you are not careful, these very thin noodles can overcook quickly. Avoid mushy pasta by checking on your soup regularly, and removing the pot from the heat when it is done.

Frequently asked questions

What can I use if I can`t find fide noodles?

You can use angel hair pasta, vermicelli noodles or even a small shaped pasta like orzo or little stars.

Can I freeze fide soup?

Fide is best served right when it is made. The delicate noodles don’t hold up really when when frozen – they may turn mushy.

Fide soup

Storing and reheating

You can make fide soup ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 – 4 days. To reheat, use a pot set over medium heat. You may need to add a little more water if the soup has thickened a lot.

Serving size

This recipe makes enough soup for 2 people.

Looking for more comfort soups? Try these!

Manestra

Trahana soup with chicken (Σούπα τραχανά με κοτόπουλο)

Hilopites soup (Χυλοπίτες σούπα)

Manestra: A simple Greek soup recipe made with small pasta shapes and a tomato shaped broth.
Trahana soup with chicken
Hilopites soup (Χυλοπίτες σούπα)

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Fide soup

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Fide soup
Fide soup

Fide soup (Σούπα φιδέ)

A simple pasta based soup made with thin noodles and flavoured with a touch of olive oil
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Greek
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 61kcal
Author: Mia Kouppa

Ingredients

  • 5 cups water
  • 2 balls of fide
  • 1/4 - 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp grated mizithra optional

Instructions

  • Bring the water to a boil in a medium sized pot.
  • While the water is boiling, break the fide apart in your hands so that it is broken into little pieces. When the water has come to a boil, add the salt and the fide to it. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes.
  • Add the olive oil to the pot, stir the fide, and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
  • Serve the fide soup with grated mizithra on the side.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 61kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 366mg | Potassium: 5mg | Fiber: 0.01g | Vitamin A: 22IU | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 0.04mg

Thanks for sharing!

4 Comments

  1. Lou Morucci says:

    Sometimes braving a recipe when you’re not sure how much of an ingredient is called for can be a disaster, sometimes you can be lucky and just eyeballing it works. Happened to me here. This recipe called for two balls of fide which I couldn’t locate here in my home town so I used Barilla fedeo instead. I used a whole cup o it. Well that got me a lot of pasta. I didn’t mind that at all. Added a little more liquid to the pot and I got a really satisfying soup…Thanks5 stars

    1. miakouppa says:

      Hi Lou! So happy that your guesstimate worked well for you! You raise a good point, and one we will address by taking our balls of fide, breaking them up, and seeing how much volume we actually end up with! Great feedback! Hope you continue to find stuff to love here with us 🙂 xoxo Helen & Billie

  2. James Cahoon says:

    Is it still fide if you use chicken stock? There is a Mexican pasta called fideo that is already broken and so easy to use.

    1. miakouppa says:

      Hi James! Some people make fide with either chicken or vegetable stock, so feel free to do so. We hope you love it! xoxo Helen & Billie

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