How different (or similar) are fideo and vermicelli? This article will answer just this.
Fideo and vermicelli are similar, but not the same. They are made with wheat flour and other ingredients but their differences lie in their length, and sometimes width, which will ultimately result in different cooking times and recipes.
So, what other differences do they have and what can you make with them? Read on to discover!
Is Fideo Another Name for Vermicelli?
While fideo and vermicelli are both kinds of pasta, they are not the same thing. To bring more light into their differences, let us first discuss each one.
Fideo is a type of pasta thought to have started its roots in Mexico (source: Delighted Cooking). In Spanish, fideo means “noodles”. Particular types of noodles, to be more specific.
Like vermicelli pasta, it is thin and golden (source: Bon Appetit). Fideo is nicknamed the “Mexican spaghetti”. But unlike vermicelli, it’s only about 1 inch in length which is the most common size of a fideo.
Fideo is available in Mexican stores or the Hispanic food aisle of most major supermarket grocery stores. If you can’t find one, you can use angel hair pasta or vermicelli and cut them into the size of a fideo pasta, or any length you prefer (source: Leite’s Culinaria).
Fideo is also popular in Tex-Mex restaurants around the world. It can be prepared according to different region-specific methods and can be served as a main course, side dish, or soup.
As the main course, fideo or more commonly referred to as Mexican spaghetti, or quite simply, “fideo”. It resembles one, but not cooked like one. This is what most people think of what a fideo dish is.
As the main course, fideo is first browned on the surface in a pan of hot oil. It is to be browned, not burned. Next, it is then cooked, usually boiled, in liquid like you would other pastas.
The finished result is added with ingredients that you would cook traditional Italian spaghetti with. It can also be topped with meat or chicken or made into a comforting soup as a starter before the main course (source: Delighted Cooking).
The browning of fideo in the pan gives it its unique flavor and crispy texture, which makes it an overall unique type of pasta dish.
Now, on the other side of the room is vermicelli. Vermicelli has two types: vermicelli pasta and vermicelli noodle.
In this article, we will talk about vermicelli pasta which is the one made with wheat.
Vermicelli has its roots in the south of Italy. In literal translation, vermicelli means “little worms”. It sounds the least bit appealing, yes, but hey, it is pasta, and pasta’s always been good.
Vermicelli is a long and thin pasta like spaghetti. But the two are also different based on their width. In Italy, spaghetti is thinner than vermicelli while the in the US and English-speaking places, vermicelli is thinner than regular spaghetti.
Compared to angel hair pasta or capellini, vermicelli is a bit thicker (source: The Spruce Eats).
But while vermicelli can substitute fideo, fideo cannot substitute vermicelli because it is shorter in length. The cooking time will change as well as the recipe.
Vermicelli is a popular pasta. It’s so popular, it has different versions all over the globe like Asian vermicelli noodles, Falooda Sev, and even fideo can be classified as such (source: Greatist).
With vermicelli, you can make pesto and basil, chicken parmesan, ranch salad pasta, vongole, aglio olio, and so much more! If you’re a fan of noodles and want to discover what makes vermicelli unique from other dishes, consider reading this article as it has all the answers!
While vermicelli and fideo are similar, they are not the same but are still delicious in any way you prepare them. May this article bring a delicious meal out of you!
