Mexican Noodle Casserole

Looking for something new and exciting to make for dinner? Why not try a Mexican noodle casserole? Full of savory heat and cheese, this dish is simple to make and offers a great way to use leftover turkey. Turkey was one of the native birds of Mexico and has been on the Mexican menu for hundreds of years. If you thought that turkey didn't fit with Mexican cuisine, you can take this as your new lesson for the day. If you don't have turkey, you can easily substitute chicken.

Sopa Seca uses toasted pasta to lend a unique texture to the casserole. The flavor of this casserole is intense and delicious. You can also substitute rice for the pasta for a little different texture. You can also make this without meat if you prefer it to be a side dish. Sopa Seca is a traditional Mexican comfort food. You can always pick up some authentic Mexican cotija cheese to use instead of cheddar if you wish.

Meat Casseroles

Recipe for Sopa Seca

This cheesy casserole is full of flavor.

What You Need

1/4 cup oil, plus a little extra for the pan 12 ounces bundled vermicelli pasta 1 medium onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon dried oregano, Mexican if you can get it 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 bay leaf 1-1/2 cups canned whole tomatoes 1 to 2 chipotles en adobo sauce, minced 1-1/2 cups chicken broth 1 teaspoon salt Freshly ground black pepper 2 cups smoked turkey, shredded 1 cup cheddar cheese, coarsely grated Sour cream thinned with a small amount of milk (optional)

How to Make It

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

Apply a thin coat of oil in a 9 inch square baking dish. Heat the rest of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat on the stove. Add the pasta and let them cook. Turn them with tongs as needed until they are golden brown on all sides. This takes about 5 minutes. Remove the pasta bundles and any extra pieces to a plate.

Add onion to the skillet and let it cook until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic, oregano, chili powder, and bay leaf, cooking until they become fragrant (about 30 seconds). Using your hands, crush the tomatoes over the pot and let the juices join the tomato pieces in the pot. Add the chipotles. Raise the heat to high and let this mixture cook until thick, about 2 minutes. Add the broth, toasted pasta, salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat and let it simmer gently without a cover. Break up the pasta with a spoon. Let cook about 5 minutes, and then add the turkey.

Remove the bay leaf. Move the mixture to your baking dish. Sprinkle the cheese generously over the top and loosely cover the dish with foil. Let the casserole bake until the cheese melts and everything is hot throughout; about 20 minutes. If you wish, serve with thinned sour cream drizzled over the top.

Serves 4

Mexican Noodle Casserole

Mexican recipes are delicious. Don't stick to the same old Americanized recipes; try some authentic easy Mexican recipes and bring home the real flavor of Mexico. It goes far beyond the usual tacos and burritos.

MexicanFoodRecipes.org When it has to be Real Authentic Mexican Food

See Also : all clad master chef 2 14 piece cookware set