Nothing beats a warm bowl of beef soup on a chilly winter day. With these easy beef soup recipes and a few basic ingredients, you can whip up nutritious, delicious beef soup whenever you crave for it.
Essential Pre-Steps: Blanching Beef for Purity
For a clear, flavorful broth, start by blanching the beef to remove impurities. Heat a pot of water, add a slice of ginger and the beef, and optionally a splash of rice wine to remove the meat odor. Once it boils, remove any foam, turn off the heat, and rinse the beef in warm water. If you prefer adding vegetables like carrots or radishes, a quick 30-40 second blanch in hot water will enhance their sweetness.
Selecting Premium Ingredients for the Best Beef Soup
Good soup starts with fresh, seasonal ingredients and quality beef. Canadian beef, for example, is known for its high quality, raised in natural farmland environments with clean air, water, and nutrient-rich feed. Strict safety and quality standards ensure you’re getting only the best.
Classic Beef Soup Recipes
1. Classic Clear Beef Soup
- Ingredients: 400g beef short ribs, 1 daikon radish, 1 carrot, ½–1 onion, 3 scallions, 1–2 slices ginger, 1 slice angelica root (for tomato soup, add 3–4 tomatoes; for braised soup, add 1–2 tomatoes).
- Seasoning: White pepper, salt, 5 tbsp rice wine (for braised soup, add 40g spicy bean paste, 100cc light soy sauce, 50g sugar).
- Steps:
1. Blanch the beef and vegetables following the pre-steps.
2. In a pot, add the beef, radish, and carrot, covering with about 2,500cc of water, and bring to a boil.
3. Smash ginger and add with angelica root and rice wine. Remove any foam.
4. Once boiling, reduce to low heat, partially cover with pod lid, and stewing for 40 minutes.
5. Add onion and scallions, stewing for another 20 minutes, then remove the scallions.
6. Season with white pepper and salt, and it’s ready!
2. Korean Seaweed Beef Soup
- Soak 15g dried seaweed. In a pot, sauté 2 garlic cloves in 2 tbsp sesame oil, add 150g sliced beef, and stir until half-cooked.
- Add the drained seaweed and cook with 1,200ml water, 3–4 tbsp soy sauce, and salt to taste. Bring to a boil and serve.
3. Tomato Beef Soup
- For a light taste, add fresh tomatoes and basil leaves, and follow the same steps as the classic soup for a naturally sweet and savory variation.
4. Chinese Traditional Stewed Radish Beef Soup Recipe (hard version)
This tasty, flavorful radish and beef soup is perfect for winter time, combining tender beef with aromatic spices and refreshing radish. Here's an easy step-by-step recipe for a soothing bowl of homemade soup.
Ingredients:
- Beef brisket: 500–600g
- White radish: 300g
- Star anise: 2 pieces
- Sichuan peppercorns: 1g
- Fennel seeds: 3g
- Cinnamon stick: 2g
- Ginger slices: 20g
- Salt: 1 tsp
- Water: 1000ml
- Optional: Hawthorn (or celery stalk)
- Cilantro: to garnish
- Rock sugar: 2 small pieces
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Beef:
- Cut the beef into approximately 3cm cubes and place them in a mesh strainer.
- Cover with water, set to 50°C for 5 minutes at medium speed, to clean and remove any impurities. Drain and repeat the rinse once more. Set aside.
2. Gather the Spices:
- Prepare the spices: 2 pieces of star anise, a small piece of cinnamon, 1g of Sichuan peppercorns, 2g of fennel seeds, and 20g of ginger slices.
- If you have a spice bag, place the spices inside and tie it up. This allows for easy removal after cooking.
3. Start the Soup Base:
- Place the beef, spices, and ginger in a pot. If using hawthorn, add one; if not, a small piece of celery works well. Add salt and 1000ml of water.
- Set to cook for 99 minutes at 100°C with gentle stirring. After 15 minutes, pause to check for any remaining foam, skimming as needed. Resume heat once cleared.
4. Add the Radish:
- Cut the white radish into cubes. When there is about 40 minutes left, add the radish cubes.
5. Finish Cooking:
- When the timer rings, the soup is ready for serve. Sprinkle chopped cilantro on top before serving.
6. Adjust Cooking Time as Needed:
- The 99-minute cooking time can be adjusted according to the tenderness of the meat and your preferred texture.
7. Serve with Dipping Sauce (Optional):
- For an extra kick, pair the beef with homemade garlic chili sauce. This is especially enjoyable for those who prefer a bolder, spicier flavor!
Explore Global Flavors
Looking for variety? Try international recipes like Thai-spiced or cumin beef soups. Even if you do not have enough time for cooking, using freeze beef slices and diverse seasonings makes for quick, flavorful soups without long stewing.
Cooking delicious beef soup doesn’t require complex techniques—just follow these simple recipes for easy and satisfying bowls. Quality ingredients and the right cooking methods drive you for the success. Whether you’re cozying up in winter or seeking a nutritious meal, a warm bowl of beef soup is the perfect choice. Try one of these recipes today and enjoy the comfort of homemade beef soup!
