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Hong Kong vegetable macaroni soup
Tong tung fan: cha chaan teng breakfast macaroni in clear broth, with a fried egg on top
Walk into any Hong Kong cha chaan teng before 11 am and you'll see bowls of macaroni in clear soup on almost every table, part of the breakfast set with toast and milk tea. The usual version carries strips of ham; at home many families make it with sweetcorn, peas, carrot and a fried egg instead, for a light, comforting bowl that children love. Chef's tip: cook the macaroni separately and add it to the broth at the end, so it stays springy and the soup stays clear.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Boil 4 oz elbow macaroni in plenty of water over a high heat for 1 minute less than the packet time, until tender with a little bite. Drain and rinse briefly under hot water to wash off the starch.
8 minStep 2: Meanwhile bring 3 cups vegetable stock to a simmer in another pan, add 1 carrot and cook on a medium heat for 5 minutes, then add 2 ⅞ oz sweetcorn kernels and 2 ⅛ oz frozen peas and simmer for 2 minutes. Season with ¼ tsp ground white pepper and ½ tsp toasted sesame oil; taste for salt.
7 minStep 3: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat and fry 2 eggs for 2–3 minutes, until the whites are set with crisp, lacy edges and the yolks are still runny. Common mistake: frying on a low heat; the egg goes rubbery and pale instead of getting the browned edges that flavour the soup.
3 minStep 4: Divide the macaroni between deep bowls, ladle over the hot soup and vegetables, slide a fried egg on top and scatter with 1 spring onion if you like.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- Protein
- 15 g
- Carbs
- 55 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does hong Kong vegetable macaroni soup take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 3 minutes to prepare and 12 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of vegetable stock?
- Chicken stock, same amount (not vegetarian).
- What can I use instead of carrot?
- Parsnip or sweet potato, same weight.
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