Wednesday 19 October 2016

Beefy Vegetable Soup


This beef soup was unplanned and came about because I forgot to pick up some chicken. And I forgot about the chicken because I was distracted by the beef. I should have referred to my shopping list. Drat!
While shopping at Aeon, I walked over to the meat section to look for chicken thighs. Then I saw some very nice beef shins. The beef was so fresh and beautiful that I picked up 4 packets and promptly forgot about the chicken thighs.


So instead of roasted chicken, I ended up with beef soup. Since it was unplanned and I was cooking for myself, I simply chucked whatever I liked into the pot. 


This time, instead of chopping my carrots, daikon and potatoes into chunks, I grated them instead. Yes, more work but I just wanted to do things differently.


I am happy to report that this soup turned out well. The flavors came from the sauteed onions, garlic and ginger which was further enhanced by a cinnamon stick, a star anise and a tablespoon each of cumin and coriander powder. The rest of the magic was contributed by the beef and grated vegetables. And two cubes of chicken stock cubes :)

Beefy Vegetable Soup
Recipe source : Phong Hong 
Note : This recipe is much simplified since it was cooked impromptu. If you want a tastier beef soup, please refer to the recipe here

Ingredients :
- 350g beef shin, cut into cubes
- 1 big onion, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 inch ginger, grated 
- 1/2 inch cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
- 1 tbsp cumin powder
- 1 tbsp coriander powder
- freshly ground black pepper
- 2 medium carrots, grated
- 1 medium daikon, grated
- 1 Russet potato, grated
- 2 tomatoes, quartered
- 2 stalks celery, sliced
- 2 chicken stock cubes
- 1 litre water

Method :
1. Heat oil in a pot and saute onions until softened.
2. Add garlic and continue to saute until lightly browned.
3. Add minced ginger, cinnamon stick, star anise, cumin and coriander powder and saute briefly until aromatic.
4. Add beef and fry until meat changes color.
5. Add water, stock cubes, tomatoes and celery. Bring to a boil and lower the heat and simmer for an hour.
6. Add grated carrots, daikon and potato and continue to simmer until beef is tender.
7. Season with pepper.

36 comments:

  1. Wish Im invited to enjoy your beef soup. Beef soup is my all time favourite

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    Replies
    1. Come come, there is plenty to go around!

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  2. I will take beef soup over chicken soup any day! Yums! So delicious! Seeing all the ingredients in your beef soup, it must be super duper tasty! you can open a cafe and I will eat there everyday!

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  3. Please come Singapore and set up business here, hehe....

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  4. I often make soups with what I happen to have in my kitchen, it is a very reasonable idea😀

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    Replies
    1. It's the most practical thing to cook :)

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  5. This is like a soup kambing except that it's done with lembu which I like even more (since lamb is my least fav meat). I think choosing to grate your vegetables will result in a thicker and more robust soup though I do like my daikon in soft chunks too. I'm wondering why you need to put in two chicken stock cubes when making a soup with such fresh and plentiful ingredients at home. When I make soups at home I make sure I never ever put in artificial flavourings since I drink loads of those already in soups I get from outside! >.<

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    Replies
    1. You are right. there is no necessity to add chicken stock cubes. I did that just because I had some in the fridge hah..hah..

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  6. I thought beef shin takes a while to cook. It looks like a power packed soup.

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    Replies
    1. It took me 2 hours to get the beef to become tender.

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  7. Beef soup is nice too. Comforting.

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  8. The soup looks thick and nice... great to go with noodles or rice? hehehee.. I know, you are off carbs.. a bowl of soup with so much ingredients inside is more than enough... Two weeks ago, I was coughing quite badly and my meals were just hot oats and hot soup.. .no carbs.. I lost a kg during that time when there was practically no appetite.. but now of course I gained double.. :)

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    Replies
    1. I had the soup on it's own, so full already! Glad to know you have recovered and that soup can be slimming. hah...hah....

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  9. Wow..looks yummy...suka sup yg pekat2 camni.
    Tq for visiting my blog..

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  10. I look at the first photo and already drooled. LOL

    Your simplified recipe looks delish enough for me! Gonna try one day. :)

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    Replies
    1. It's not too bad, taste even better the next day :)

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  11. The soup looks very delicious, Phong Hong! I think this would be great with pork too! Eat with some crusty bread, yums!

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  12. Agree with Joyce! I like to dip some toast, soft rolls or crusty bread into a bowl of thick fragrant soup!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, but sadly I did not have any crusty bread with me :(

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  13. Such a nice bowl of soup during rainy day! For people who don't eat beef like me, can replace with chicken or pork kan? :p

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  14. Does this taste like Kambing Soup (ie. Mutton Soup)?

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    Replies
    1. A little bit, but because I used less spices, the taste is not as good as Kambing Sup.

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  15. This looks so delicious and appetizing with more vegetables! I just had the beef soup at Dua by Skohns which you must try. Theirs is so thick and not soupy.

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  16. I never cook with spices such as cinnamon stick, star anise, cumin and coriander powder as I know if I bought 1pkt, they will sit long long time in my pantry >_<
    But your beef soup looks yummy, maybe I should consider to get those spices and cook this LOL

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    Replies
    1. You can use the ready packed spices by Adabi (the one for sup tulang).

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  17. It looks very hearty and delicious! :)

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  18. I love this beef soup packed with so much ingredients and nutrition! I can just take the soup on its own.

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    Replies
    1. It is very filling and a complete meal on its own.

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