What do you want when, the weather outside is cold, the breeze just sends a chill down your spine, all you could say is brrrr.,? Sure a warm cup of tea, hot coffee may just sooth your soul, but what you really want is soup. A soup that is warm to the bone, that brings your shivers to a complete halt! People, here is a soup that is so invigoratingly orgasmic that it'll make Bill Clinton want to go screw another intern and "Client number 9" to jump right out of his skin. I am talking about a broth that is a bit sour from the tomatos, but offers a fusion of flavors from the pork bones, onions, crab paste, dried shrimp and a touch of love. Thats right, Bun Rieu Cua (Tomato Minced Crab paste soup). For those who have been following the HoustonWok, my fellow wokkies know that I hate the cold, it's just not for me. With winter right around the corner I am brushing up my warm melodies to keep my stomach full and bodies warm. How cold is cold in Houston? Roughly 20 degrees on a low night , and although someone from Minneapolis may say, "Oh thats spring weather here", try living in 100degrees F temperature 340 days out of the year, 20 degrees is like standing in a meat freezer. Bun Rieu is a Vietnamese classic, however you don't have to be Vietnamese to appreciate this, the basic ingredients that go into making this broth are our everyday items. Here's what you will need to make Bun Rieu Cua.
Servings 4
5 quart stock pot
Ingredients
Rice Vermicelli Noodles
Step 1 of broth
1 pound of pork bones
Dried Shrimp
4 tomatos sliced
1 yellow onion sliced in half
Step 2 of broth
I thought I'd try something new and add shrimp wontons.(Optional)
1 Bottle of crab paste
3 battered egg yolk
1 brick of tofu(Fried or take home and fry)
1-2 stalk of green onions(sliced)
Seasonings
2 Tablespoons of fish sauce(adjust to taste)
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of salt(adjust to taste)
1/2 teaspoon of msg(optional)
1 teaspoon of fremented shrimp paste(Optional Mam Ruoc Warning it has a bold smell that if you are unfamiliar w/this product, than don't use it.)
Method
Cook your Vermicelli noodles and set aside
1Clean your pork bones thoroughly
2Bring your stock pot to a boil, and drop in your pork bones bring the fire back to medium heat and allow the pot to simmer for 7 minutes. This process helps to alleviate the impurities in your final stock bringing out a clearer and cleaner broth.
3After 5 minutes poor out the water and season your pork bones if you wish, a tad bit of salt and fish sauce will do.
4 With a new batch of water, add all of the above ingredients in "Step 1 of stock completion) into your stock pot along with the seasonings.
5 Prepare "Step 2 of stock pot completion" Make sure your tofu is fried, and sliced, mix your crab paste w/the battered egg yolk. Batter the egg yolk first!
6.Once your stock pot comes to a boil, add the fried tofu and then pour in your crab paste mix.
7. At this point turn your stock pot to medium heat and allow the broth to simmer.
8. Add the sliced green onions and now enjoy your Bun Rieu.
Contact me should you have any questions or need help w/this recipe.
Garnishments
Lime
Bean sprouts
Shredded banana flower
Spearmint leaves
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