Soups Recipes - Beef and Ginger Soup Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 onion

• 1.5kg/3-3 1/2lb beef shank with bones

• 2.5cm/1 in fresh root ginger

• 1 star anise

• 1 bay leaf

• 2 whole cloves

• 2.5ml/1/2 tsp fennel seeds

• 1 piece of cinnamon stick

• 3 liters/5 pints/12 cups water fish sauce, to taste

• juice of 1 lime

• 150g/5oz fillet (tenderloin) steak

• 450g/1lb fresh flat rice noodles

• salt and ground black pepper

For the accompaniments:

• 1 small red onion, sliced into rings

• 115g/4oz beans prouts

• 2 fresh red chilies, seeded and sliced

• 2 spring onions (scallions), sliced

• coriander (cilantro) leaves

• lime wedges

Serves 4-6

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Method:

1. Cut the onion in half. Grill (broil) under a high heat, cut side up. until the exposed sides are caramelized. Set aside.

2. Cut the meat into large chunks and then place with the bones in a large pan. Add the caramelized onion with the ginger; star anise, bay leaf. cloves, fennel seeds and cinnamon.

3. Add the water; bring to the boil, then simmer gently for 2-3 hours, skimming off the fat and scum occasionally.

4. Remove the meat from the stock and cut into small pieces, discarding the bones. Strain the stock and return to the pan together with the meat. Bring back to the boil and season with the fish sauce and lime juice.

5. Slice the fillet steak very thinly and then chill until required. Place the accompaniments in separate bowls.

6. Cook the noodles in boiling water until just tender. Drain and divide among soup bowls.

7. Top with steak, pour the hot stock over and serve, offering the accompaniments separately so that each person may garnish their soup as they like.