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Canh rau ngot with tofu
Katuk leaf and tofu soup
Canh rau ngot chay (canh rau ngót chay): Vietnamese katuk leaf soup, made vegetarian with tofu
Canh rau ngot is one of the plainest and most loved soups on a Vietnamese family table, served at dinner in Hanoi and the Mekong Delta alike, in a shared bowl beside rice, a braised dish and a dipping sauce. The leaves of the katuk shrub are bruised and simmered briefly until soft and sweet. It is usually made with minced pork or dried shrimp; this vegetarian version uses cubes of tofu and a little fried shallot for savouriness. Each bowl has about 110 kcal and roughly 10 g of protein, from the tofu, so it is a light side soup. Katuk can be found frozen in Asian shops; young spinach is the nearest stand-in. The common mistake is overcooking the leaves, which turn khaki and slimy. Chef's tip: rub the leaves between your palms before cooking; bruising them lets them release their sweetness in just a few minutes.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 9 oz katuk leaves (rau ngót)picked from the stems, or young spinach
- 10 ½ oz firm tofucut into 1.5 cm cubes
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 shallotsthinly sliced
- 1 litre water
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp sugar
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Wash 9 oz katuk leaves (rau ngót), then rub the leaves firmly between your palms for a minute until they darken slightly and feel limp.
Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a pot over a medium heat and fry 2 shallots for 2 minutes, until golden and fragrant.
2 minStep 4: Add the leaves and stir. Simmer for 2–3 minutes only, until the leaves are soft and deep green; turn off the heat straight away.
3 minStep 5: Season with ¼ tsp ground black pepper, taste for salt and serve hot with rice.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 110 kcal
- Protein
- 10 g
- Carbs
- 4 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does canh rau ngot with tofu take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of shallots?
- Half an onion per 2 shallots.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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