I am not normally a soup person, but when we moved into our new home and made the effort to introduce it to my family (I was initially surprised!) I became convinced that no one eats enough vegetables. This proved true, especially since most of the food at home can be considered just fine, if cooked in an appropriate amount of water with the addition of salt, which will bring out the best in the vegetable. However, what if you could make something so good, you wouldn’t even think about it? The secret lies in using only ingredients you might normally use in your cooking (which include vegetables) or in making other dishes. But of course, it requires some practice! And, after all the research and trial-and-error, this recipe for a homemade noodle soup actually came out perfectly. So, if you want to try making this type of delicious soup, let me warn you: there are lots of things you need to know, and the process takes time.
What is it?
A bowl of noodles prepared with plenty of veggies, meat or chicken and the
right amount of seasoning and flavorings. It will be almost pureeable. Of
course, the noodles themselves would take more time to cook, as they require
more soaking water.
Where to find it?
There are many types of rice noodles available these days.
You can use jasmine, brown, wild, white, black, green… there is really no limit
on the variety! Just like any kind of pasta, you need to place them in a large
pot, cover with cold water and simmer until they soften slightly. This is done
by placing a lid on the pan before adding the noodles. In fact, you don’t have
to let the noodles boil, as they usually do. Instead, once they start softening
up and the water flows through, stop boiling, leaving the noodles to cool and
then put them back into the hot water.
Different types of soups
Different types of soups are famous in different regions of
the world. These soups include chicken soup, butternut squash soup, chicken
noodle soup, miso soup, potato soup, French onion soup. vegetable soup, tomato
soup, cabbage soup, mushroom soup and many more. But first, we need some
ingredients. We use cheap or semi-deli meat or beef from scratch. I prefer using
chicken, but there are also rabbit, sardines, lamb, goat, duck, or other kinds
of meat that are good substitutes. You can get any kind of frozen meat in
supermarkets for about 15 dollars per pound. Some people prepare it by adding
broth or sauce, or even with different sauces for various tastes. For example,
you can eat it plain or mix it with soup stock. But for now, I will give you
recipes that use only stock.
How long do you need to cook?
The total cooking time depends mainly on the size of the
noodles, as well as their preparation. That said, here we have taken this
recipe from “Cook With Ease” magazine, which recommends 6 minutes for 100g
large noodles. For smaller ones and pieces, the same method works, but you may
need to double the quantity. We also recommend waiting 30 minutes before
draining the water, as the noodles tend to absorb more liquid than you think.
If you are looking for something shorter, such as 2 minutes, see my post which
contains recipes for very fast & easy noodles.
How much seasoning?
This recipe calls for ¼ tsp of red chili paste, 1 tsp each
of soy sauce and sesame oil, 3 tbsp of beef stock, 4 g dried dashi, ½ tsp of
Chinese five spice powder, 3 tbsp of chicken stock, 2 tbsp of oyster sauce (or
mushroom stock), and 1 pinch of red chili flakes. This should help to enhance
the flavors of the fresh ingredients, add color and complexity and offer the
perfect balance of salty, sweet, spicy and sour notes. Do let it set before
serving, just remember to drain the water a bit when you’re ready!
How do you get those noodles to hold together?
The first step is to soak the noodles for 5–10 minutes
(for larger ones, the longer your noodles stay in the water, the larger the
amount becomes). Then rinse thoroughly under cold running water and drain well
to remove excess water and dry out the surface of the noodles even further.
Keep the water around the noodles warm so that they won’t stick in moisture,
and the noodles will keep their shape.
Do they taste similar to anything else you’ve tried?
It’s a mixture of both bitter and sweet flavours, along
with a touch of tangy notes, which is definitely unique for noodles. Because
they are so light, they pair nicely with so many ingredients! You could add
them to salads, soups, casseroles, sauces… the list goes on! But why did we
choose the combination we did?! Simply because it worked well!
Chicken Noodles Soup
This is an excellent dish to prepare if there are no
leftovers and you only need one serving. It is important to be careful when
preparing it since the noodles may look dried out in the end. Cooking time may
vary depending on how fresh your meat is. Make sure you cook with the highest
heat possible. Add everything into heavy pot and cover. Cook till the noodles
are tender. Then add enough broth to cover the pasta and cook until the water
is reduced to half. If needed, you can add salt or pepper, but don't overdo it
and add too much. Garnish with parmesan cheese and serve. This soup is perfect
in winter, and it will save food money because it does not take long to serve.
Vegetables Soups
If you have vegetables on hand, a vegetable soup is very
convenient. They do not have to be cooked and may remain cold while preserving
their shape. All vegetables, including potatoes, carrots, onions, bell peppers,
eggplant, celery, grapefruit, cherry tomatoes are usually used. Here's what
you'll need:
Ingredients:
1 medium onion
1 cup chopped cabbage
salt, to taste
1 tablespoon oil (can add olive oil if available)
1 tablespoon cream of tartar
1 chicken breast
salt, to taste
1 whole yellow potato, peeled and cut into rings
8 cups vegetable broth
6 large eggs
2 teaspoon soy sauce
parsley, to garnish
Method: Heat a large pan. Add oil and cook the onion until translucent. When it starts to brown, add the chopped cabbage and stir well. Stir-fry the carrot, celery, eggplant, pumpkin, and tomato for 5 to 10 minutes. Let the vegetables cool down. Salt well, then put the vegetables back on the pan. Add the vegetable broth, chicken, eggs, soy sauce, and parsley. Bring to boiling point, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve. Garnish with more chives and coriander. Another way to prepare vegetables is to boil them in salted cooking water for about 1 hour or add them to hot broth. Soak for 15 to 30 minutes and drain until you remove the vegetables. Then cook them in a similar way as meat.
French Onion Soup
This could be made without the onions, but I would say that
in this case, onions are really necessary. This is a classic Asian soup where
the meat is removed and instead vegetables are boiled first and then meat is
added. Of course, you can add onions, corn, carrots, etc., but it is not
essential to cook these together. I prefer using chicken broth for a richer
flavor than water. This soup is easy to make and has its own advantage to
consume with rice since it is extremely forgiving and creamy. Onions and garlic
are added at the beginning so that they are not drowned by the rich sauces.
After removing the meat, broth is poured over the vegetables, leaving only
about a thin layer. Cover the beans and onions so that they don't burn or fry.
Then cook the beans. After several hours, the beans may not have any color.
When the beans are completely cooked, you should peel them. And onions are
peeled well before draining in order not to break. Cut the top off the bean.
After proper washing and draining the water of the beans, place them in a
container. Place the fried potatoes in a colander to extract as much liquid as
possible and discard the skins. Chop the roasted chicken and bread. Put the
peas and cucumbers on top and mash. Finally, garnish with a slice of lemon and
parsley. Do this in three bowls or serve in pairs with the vegetables.
The winters have become so hard that the most simple meals
are becoming very rare and even impossible to make because they require all
your time. If you want them to not be like this for a while, enjoy the above
mentioned recipe of soups to help you keep yourself warm throughout winter.
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