Salvadoran beef and vegetable soup (sopa de res con verduras) 

I fell in love with this soup at a Salvadoran restaurant in Columbia Heights, and I’m happy that I finally did it justice at home. Using a stockpot, combine 10 cups water, 2 ½ lb boneless beef chuck (cut into small chunks), 1 chopped tomato, 1 chopped onion, 1 chopped leek (white only), 3 stalks… Continue reading Salvadoran beef and vegetable soup (sopa de res con verduras) 

Salvadoran chicken broth with vegetables (caldo de pollo con verduras)

While on our honeymoon at ClubMed, we had a delicious soup that inspired us to try our hand at home.  First, make the chicken broth by combining 1 ½ lb  chicken wings, necks and gizzards (here, 3 lb chicken wings and drummettes), 4 stalks chopped celery, 1 lb chopped and peeled carrots, ½ bunch each chopped cilantro… Continue reading Salvadoran chicken broth with vegetables (caldo de pollo con verduras)

Neapolitan vegetable soup (cianfotta) 

After a day of gnoshing, we decided to try lighter fare for dinner.  This recipe is loosely based on:  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mario-batali/vegetable-soup-in-the-style-of-naples-cianfotta-recipe.htm.  We modified by adding thyme, sage, Italian parsley, and a dash each tomato paste and apple cider vinegar.  This recipe is vegetarian, but here we used 4 cups of chicken broth instead of the 2… Continue reading Neapolitan vegetable soup (cianfotta) 

Chinese rice porridge with pork dumplings and bok choy

Rinse and drain 1 cup rice (here, long grain rice), then set aside. In the mean time, soak 2 Tbsp dried shrimp in ½ cup warm water until reconstituted (about 10 mins), then drain and mince. Add 2/3 lb minced pork to the minced shrimp, mixing well, then fold in 1 Tbsp Chinese cooking wine,… Continue reading Chinese rice porridge with pork dumplings and bok choy

Korean wakame seaweed soup with beef (miyuk guk) 

Soak about 1-2 oz dried wakame seaweed in room temperature water and set aside.  Saute 1/2 lb lean beef (cut into bite-sized pieces) in a little oil.  When browned, add 5-6 shiitake mushrooms (fresh or reconstituted dry), cut into ½" slices  Sauté until fragrant, then add 2 large Yukon potatoes (or 1 large Russet potato) cut into large, bite-sized chunks (here,… Continue reading Korean wakame seaweed soup with beef (miyuk guk) 

Ghanaian black-eyed pea stew with fried plantain (red-red)

Recipe is here: http://thespiceisland.blogspot.com/2010/04/red-red-greatest-recipe-known-to.html?m=1 We reduced the oil to ½ cup (from 1 cup). This recipe calls for dried shrimp, so it is not vegetarian. I read somewhere that West African cuisine utilizes smoked shrimp, as opposed to dried shrimp. To mimic the flavor of smoked shrimp, we combined tiny dried shrimp (from a Chinese… Continue reading Ghanaian black-eyed pea stew with fried plantain (red-red)

Korean slow-cooked beef soup with radish (moo tang)

This soup goes great with kimchi (store-bought, in the background).  Soak 5 pieces (about 3 lb) bone-in beef shank in water for about 10 minutes, then placed the drained beef into a large stock pot, covering with about 10 cups water.  Add 2 large onions, halved and peeled, and one head of garlic (peeled and separated… Continue reading Korean slow-cooked beef soup with radish (moo tang)