Ingredients for Sour Cucumber and Beef Rib Soup
– 500 grams of beef ribs
– 1 bowl of pickled cucumbers
– 3 tomatoes
– Spring onions, shallots, ginger, garlic
Spices: Fish sauce, salt, sugar, seasoning powder, pepper, cooking oil
Sour Cucumber and Beef Rib Soup
How to Make Delicious Sour Cucumber and Beef Rib Soup
Step 1: Prepare the ingredients
Rinse the beef and cut it into 3×3 cm cubes. Marinate the beef with one teaspoon of fish sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, one teaspoon of seasoning powder, one teaspoon of pepper, and a little garlic. Mix well and set aside for 30 minutes to absorb the flavors.
Squeeze out excess liquid from the pickled cucumbers and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Retain some of the pickling liquid to add to the soup for flavor. If you want to enhance the sweetness of the dish, you can also use bone broth as the soup base.
Cut the tomatoes into wedges. Rinse and chop the spring onions. Slice the shallots and mince the garlic.
Step 2: Sauté the ribs and sour cucumbers
Start by frying the garlic, then add the marinated beef and stir-fry until it changes color and absorbs the spices. Transfer the beef to a pot, add water, and pour in a little of the cucumber pickling liquid. Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer until the beef is tender, as this will enhance the flavor of the dish.
Step 3: Simmer the sour cucumber soup
While the beef is simmering, sauté the sour cucumbers. Fry the shallots until fragrant, then add the cucumbers and two-thirds of the wedged tomatoes. Sauté until softened, and add a little sugar to balance the sourness.
Transfer the sautéed cucumbers to the pot and continue simmering for 45-50 minutes until the cucumbers are tender and the beef is soft. At this point, add the remaining one-third of the wedged tomatoes and cook for a few more minutes to allow the tomatoes to retain their shape, creating a visually appealing touch to the soup.
How to Cook Delicious Sour Cucumber Soup
Note: When cooking this sour cucumber and beef soup, it’s best to use a two-stage heating process. First, cook the ingredients until they are soft, then turn off the heat and let it cool down. Just before serving or when you have guests, reheat the soup, adjust the seasoning to your taste, add the spring onions, sprinkle some pepper, and serve hot.
Step 4: The Final Product
The sour cucumber and beef rib soup is now ready to be served. Enjoy the tender beef cubes with a slight chew from the tendons, the softened sour cucumbers infused with the sweetness and richness of the broth, and the yellow-red colored soup with a mild sourness. A truly delightful and comforting dish!
