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Gaeng jued tao hoo (clear tofu soup, jay style)

แกงจืดเต้าหู้เจ · silken tofu, glass noodles and cabbage in a peppery clear broth

During the nine days of the Vegetarian Festival in Phuket Town and Bangkok's Chinatown, yellow flags mark the stalls selling food that is jay: no meat, no dairy and none of the pungent alliums. This gentle soup is what people drink alongside their stir-fries, a clear broth of daikon and dried shiitake sharpened with crushed white pepper and coriander root, holding soft silken tofu and slippery mung bean vermicelli. Out of festival season, cooks add garlic oil and minced pork. Chef's tip: don't boil after the tofu goes in; silken tofu breaks into crumbs, so let it warm through at a bare simmer.
Total time
30 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4

For the broth

For the soup

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Fresh ingredients (5)

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Method

0/5 done
  1. Step 1: Put 5 cups water, 7 oz daikon, 6 dried shiitake mushrooms with its strained soaking water, 3 coriander roots and 1 tsp white peppercorns in a pot. Bring to the boil, then simmer over a medium-low heat until the daikon is translucent and the broth smells sweet, about 12 minutes.

    12 min
  2. Step 2: Add 7 oz Chinese leaf cabbage and 1 carrot and simmer until the cabbage stems are just tender, about 4 minutes.

    4 min
  3. Step 3: Season with 2 tbsp tamari, ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp sugar. Taste: it should be light and peppery, not salty.

    1 min
  4. Step 4: Lower the heat so the broth barely trembles. Slide in 10 ½ oz silken tofu and the drained 1 ⅜ oz mung bean vermicelli and warm through until the noodles are clear and soft, about 2 minutes.

    2 min
  5. Step 5: Ladle into bowls and scatter with 1 handful coriander leaves. Serve with rice and a jay stir-fry.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
120 kcal
Protein
8 g
Carbs
15 g
Fat
3 g
Fibre
3 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does gaeng jued tao hoo (clear tofu soup, jay style) take?
About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 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 dried shiitake mushrooms?
Aubergine, diced, same weight.
What can I use instead of chinese leaf cabbage?
Savoy or spring greens, same weight.

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