Spanish · intermediate
Spanish Saffron Chicken And Broken Noodle Fideuà
A comforting coastal Spanish pan dish featuring seared chicken thighs cooked with toasted fideos noodles, rich tomato sofrito, and aromatic saffron broth.
- PREP TIME
- 15 min
- COOK TIME
- 25 min
- SERVES
- 4
Good things
start in the kitchen.
LET’S MAKE IT
Step by step
- 01
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a wide shallow skillet over medium heat. Add broken vermicelli noodles and toast, stirring constantly, until golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer toasted noodles to a bowl and set aside.
- 02
Add remaining olive oil to the same skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then sear for 5 minutes until browned on all sides. Remove chicken and set aside.
- 03
Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and garlic to the skillet, cooking for 4 minutes until softened. Stir in grated tomatoes and sweet smoked paprika, cooking for 5 minutes until the sofrito darkens and thickens.
- 04
Return seared chicken to the skillet. Pour in warm saffron liquid and chicken stock, bringing the broth to a gentle simmer.
- 05
Nestle toasted vermicelli evenly into the skillet, ensuring noodles are submerged. Cook uncovered over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes until noodles absorb the broth and soften.
- 06
Remove skillet from heat, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let rest for 5 minutes before serving with fresh lemon wedges.
A LITTLE KITCHEN KNOW-HOW
Sofrito Building
Slowly reducing aromatic vegetables and tomatoes in oil to create a sweet, concentrated flavor base for broths.
Notes from the kitchen
- Toasting the noodles beforehand prevents them from becoming soggy and adds a nutty aroma to the dish.
- Grating fresh tomatoes directly into the skillet creates an authentic pan sofrito quickly.
- Original home-cooking adaptation inspired by Spanish; regional versions vary.
- Use halal-certified meat, poultry, stock, sauces, cheese and other processed ingredients. Check labels and avoid cross-contamination. Recipe screening is not halal certification.