Angel hair soup is a light soup but extremely delicious and nutritious, very suitable as an appetizer in parties or for breakfast for the whole family. Today, let’s join TasteVN in the kitchen and make this dish with 3 very simple and attractive variations!
1. Angel hair soup with pig brain
Preparation
20 minutes
Cooking
30 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Angel hair soup with pig brain Serves 4
Pig brain 1 piece Angel hair 40 gr (2 small pinches) Carrot 1/2 piece Enoki mushrooms 80 gr Chicken egg 1 piece Century egg 1 piece Chicken broth 1 liter Ginger 1 piece (small type) Alcohol a little Tapioca starch 1 tablespoon Green onion/cilantro a little (chopped) Common spices a little (sugar/salt/seasoning powder/pepper)
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh pig brains
- You should go to the market early, buy pig brains from reputable places with clear origins.
- Choose pig brains that are bright pink, without cracks, and feel elastic when touched.
- Do not choose pig brains that are pale green, have a foul smell, are leaking, or have many flies around them.
How to choose fresh enoki mushrooms
- Good enoki mushrooms have a shape similar to bean sprouts, are white and shiny, with fresh colors, firm caps, and tightly connected stems.
- Do not buy if you see mushrooms that are dull, bruised, or have separated stems, as these are old and not fresh.
- Usually, enoki mushrooms are packaged in vacuum-sealed bags; you should carefully check the origin, expiration date, etc., to ensure you buy fresh and safe mushrooms.
How to choose good century eggs
- Choose eggs that still have their outer shell intact, avoid buying eggs that are spoiled or past their expiration date.
- Prioritize buying eggs from stores, supermarkets, or reputable e-commerce sites to ensure quality and safety.
- Additionally, you can try making century eggs at home following TasteVN’s instructions.
See details: How to make simple and delicious century eggs
Where to buy chicken broth
- For convenience, you can buy canned or packaged chicken broth at food stores, e-commerce sites, … When purchasing, make sure to check the can or box thoroughly, including the production date and expiration date.
- Additionally, you can also make chicken broth at home to ensure quality.
How to make Angel Hair Soup with pig brain
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Prepare and steam the pig brain
When you buy the pig brain, remove all the blood vessels attached to the outside. Soak the pig brain in white wine for about 2 – 3 minutes, then gently wash it with salt water and let it drain.
How to eliminate the fishy smell of pig brain
- You must clean the membrane and blood vessels thoroughly!
- Additionally, to eliminate the odor, you can soak the pig brain in diluted white wine with a few smashed ginger pieces.
Place the pig brain in a bowl, add 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper, and 2 smashed ginger slices.
Put a pot on the stove, add 1 liter of water, then add the bowl of pig brain and steam it over medium heat for about 10 – 15 minutes until the pig brain is evenly cooked.
Wait for the pig brain to cool, then use a knife to cut it into bite-sized pieces.
Tip: Steaming the pig brain with ginger helps to eliminate the fishy smell of the pig brain.
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Prepare other ingredients
Cut off the root of the enoki mushrooms, soak them in diluted salt water for about 15 minutes, then wash them clean and drain. Use a knife to cut them into pieces about 1 – 2 finger lengths as desired.
How to clean enoki mushrooms
- Use a knife to cut off the root part of the mushroom as this part is quite tough and still has a lot of dirt, making it unappetizing.
- You should tear the mushrooms into small pieces before soaking them in salt water to remove all the dirt.
- Additionally, you can soak the mushrooms in rice water for about 15 minutes and then rinse them clean with water.
Peel and wash the carrots and ginger. Use a knife to slice them and then cut them into thin strips.
The century egg, after buying, is peeled and cut into small pieces like wedges. Soak the hairy fungus in water for about 10 – 15 minutes to soften, then remove and rinse clean and let drain.
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Cooking Soup
Place a pot on the stove, add 1 liter of chicken broth to the pot and bring it to a boil.
Add carrots, enoki mushrooms, shredded ginger, 2 teaspoons of seasoning, 1 teaspoon of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate to the pot, then cook until the broth boils again.
Next, crack 1 egg into a bowl, beat it, and then gently pour the egg into the pot in a spiral motion to create egg patterns.
Dissolve 1 tablespoon of tapioca flour in 4 tablespoons of water, then slowly pour it into the pot while stirring evenly until the soup reaches the desired thickness.
Finally, add the hair of angel to the pot, stir well for about 1 more minute, and then turn off the heat.
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Final Product
Serve the soup in a bowl, then add pork brain and century egg on top, sprinkle some chopped green onions and cilantro, add a little ground pepper, and arrange it beautifully to finish.
The broth is light and sweet, fragrant with ginger, while the pork brain is rich and the vegetables and mushrooms retain their natural crispness, making it very appealing. This dish is sure to be a hit with the kids!
2. Hairy Soup with Shrimp and Meat
Preparation
20 minutes
Cooking
40 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Hairy Soup with Shrimp and Meat For 4 people
Chicken breast with bone 500 gr Fresh shrimp 200 gr Hairy vegetable 10 gr Oyster mushrooms 100 gr Chicken eggs 2 eggs Cilantro a little (chopped) Shallots 2 bulbs Minced shallots 1 tablespoon Cooking oil 1 tablespoon Tapioca starch 1 tablespoon Rice washing water a little Common seasonings a little (salt/sugar/pepper/seasoning powder)
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh chicken meat
- For this dish, you should use the chicken breast part that is not boned. The bones can be used to simmer broth to make the dish sweeter and clearer.
- Choose chicken breast pieces with white skin, as this indicates larger chickens with better and firmer meat; young chickens tend to have meat that is more tender.
- If you buy skinless chicken breast, observe the layer of fat on the chicken. You should choose the fat that is white, as this indicates tastier meat.
- Choose breast pieces with fewer muscle striations. The more striations there are, the less fat and protein, and moreover, these striations will make the chicken tough and less tasty.
How to choose fresh oyster mushrooms
- To make the dish appealing, you should choose mushrooms with thick, firm stems that feel substantial in hand.
- Additionally, good oyster mushrooms will have a natural color (white or gray), not too dark or too light.
- Good mushrooms are those that are intact, not bruised or broken, and have a natural aroma without any foul smell.
See details: How to choose fresh oyster mushrooms
How to Make Shrimp and Meat Hair Soup
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Prepare the chicken and simmer the broth
After buying chicken breast, you should rub it with salt and then rinse it thoroughly with water several times.
Effective Way to Eliminate the Smell of Chicken Meat- Another method you can use to eliminate the smell of chicken is to use a few slices of lemon and a little salt to rub on the chicken meat, then rinse it well with cold water to remove the odor when cooking.
- Additionally, before cooking, you can crush some ginger and a little white wine, then massage it onto the chicken and let it rest for about 30 minutes to eliminate the chicken smell.
See details: How to prepare chicken meat without odor
Pour 2 liters of filtered water into the pot, then add the chicken breast along with 2 small chopped shallots, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder.
Boil the chicken breast for about 20 – 30 minutes until cooked, then remove it to cool and shred it with your hands.
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Prepare and boil the shrimp
Wash the shrimp thoroughly with water after purchasing.
Put another pot of water on the stove and bring it to a boil, then add the shrimp and boil for about 3 – 5 minutes until the shrimp is cooked through, then remove it.
Let the shrimp cool completely, then proceed to peel the shell, using a knife to cut the shrimp into bite-sized cubes.
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Prepare other ingredients
After purchasing, use a knife to cut off the base of the oyster mushrooms. Soak them in rice water for about 15 minutes, then remove and rinse with water, and let dry.
Use a knife to cut the mushrooms into pieces about 1/2 finger length.
How to clean oyster mushrooms quickly
- When you buy oyster mushrooms, you can use a knife to remove the dirty part of the mushroom stem. Then, use your hands to tear or break the mushrooms into smaller pieces, bite-sized (for larger mushrooms).
- To clean the oyster mushrooms, soak them in diluted salt water for 10 minutes, then remove, rinse with water, squeeze dry, and let drain.
- Additionally, you can soak the mushrooms in water mixed with diluted lemon juice for about 10 minutes, then remove, rinse with water, squeeze dry, and let drain.
Soak the hairtail in water for about 10 minutes to soften, then use a knife to cut it into small pieces.
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Sauté the ingredients
Place a pan on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and heat it up, then add 1 tablespoon of minced shallots and sauté until fragrant.
Next, add the oyster mushrooms and 1 teaspoon of seasoning, stir-fry the mushrooms over medium heat for about 3 minutes, then turn off the heat.
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Cook the soup
Add all the shredded chicken, diced shrimp, sautéed oyster mushrooms, and hair soup into the pot of chicken broth from earlier. Add 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning, 1 teaspoon of sugar, and 1/3 teaspoon of salt, then bring to a boil.
Crack 2 eggs into a bowl and beat them, then gently pour the eggs into the pot while stirring the soup to create beautiful egg swirls.
Next, dissolve 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in water and add it to the soup while stirring continuously until the soup reaches the desired thickness.
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Final product
Scoop the soup into a bowl, sprinkle a little ground pepper and chopped cilantro on top, and garnish to make it visually appealing to complete.
Seafood soup with a thick broth, delicious and light flavor, combined with the crispy sweetness of fresh shrimp, the tenderness of chicken meat and mushrooms, blended with the distinctive aroma of hair soup is very tasty.
This is definitely a delicious dish full of nutrients for your family’s meal, so let’s show off your cooking skills.
3. Seafood hair soup
Preparation
15 minutes
Cooking
30 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Seafood Hair Soup For 4 people
Carrot 1 piece Squid 1 piece (large type) Black tiger shrimp 4 pieces Chicken eggs 2 pieces Corn 1 ear Snow fungus 30 gr Hair soup 10 gr Cilantro a little Shallots 4 pieces Tapioca flour 1 tablespoon Corn starch 1 tablespoon Rock sugar 10 gr Common spices a little (sugar/salt/seasoning powder/msg)
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh squid
- Fresh squid will have the head and body still attached to each other; when you touch or gently pull, they feel very firm. If these two parts are separated, it indicates the squid is no longer fresh.
- The round tentacles that are still firmly attached to the arms indicate fresh squid. Conversely, if they fall off, the squid has gone bad, has been stored too long, and is no longer tasty.
- The eyes of fresh squid are usually very bright and clear, you can see inside the pupil. Avoid choosing squid with dull, cloudy eyes.
- Prefer squid with a characteristic reddish-brown color, not pale, without scratches, with a milky opaque white part, and the entire body shiny.
See details: How to choose fresh squid
How to choose fresh carrots
- Fresh carrots will have a deep orange color, bright, with fresh green leaves firmly attached to the root.
- When pressing on the carrot with your hand, you will feel the root firm, not soft and mushy.
- When buying, you should choose those with moderate size, straight elongated shape towards the tail, and smooth skin.
- Avoid choosing carrots with damaged, wilted tops, bruised bodies, slimy texture, or dark spots.
How to choose good corn
- When buying corn to make soup, you should choose American corn because this type has beautiful color, crunchy and fragrant kernels, making the soup sweeter.
- When selecting corn, you should choose fresh ears, with green husks that are not dry, soft and silky corn silk, and the stem should not be dark or wilted.
- Choose ears with husks tightly hugging the kernels inside. You also need to pay attention to the kernels, which should be plump, uniform, shiny, and straight.
- You should not choose corn that is too large; instead, select ears that are moderately long and firm.
How to make Seafood Angel Hair Soup
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Preparing seafood
For squid, pull the head away from the body, remove the backbone, and clean out the insides.
Remove the guts from the squid head, cut off the eyes, and squeeze out the squid’s beak. Wash with salt and then rinse clean with water, allowing it to drain.
How to remove the fishy smell from squid- Method 1: Combine 1 smashed ginger, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon of white wine, rub the squid with the mixture, and then rinse with water.
- Method 2: After cleaning the squid, marinate it with 2 teaspoons of sesame oil and a little wine for 5 minutes, then rinse briefly before cooking.
See details: How to remove the fishy smell from squid
Shrimp bought should be deveined, soaked in salt water for about 10 minutes, then rinsed clean.
Place a pot of water on the stove, add a bit of smashed shallots, and bring to a boil, then add the shrimp and squid to cook.
Next, remove the shrimp and squid to cool. Peel the shrimp, remove the heads, and then dice them. Cut the squid into bite-sized pieces.
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Prepare other ingredients
Peel the carrots, wash them thoroughly, cut them into strips, then continue cutting across into small cubes.
Remove the kernels from the corn and then briefly boil for about 5 minutes until the corn is cooked.
Quick way to remove corn kernels
- Cut the corn in half horizontally, using a plate or tray underneath. Place one cut side down on the plate or tray, then use a knife to cut from top to bottom. This is the simplest and quickest way to remove corn kernels, but it does not keep the kernels intact.
- Alternatively, you can use a specialized corn kernel remover to keep the kernels intact, making the dish look more appealing.
Snow mushrooms and angel hair should be rinsed briefly with water to remove dirt, then soaked in cold water for about 30 minutes to 1 hour to soften the mushrooms. Remove the mushrooms, drain, and cut into bite-sized pieces.
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Cook the soup
Place a pot on the stove, add 1.5 liters of water and bring to a boil. Then add the squid and shrimp and cook until the water boils again.
Tip
- To make the soup sweeter, you can use the water from boiling the shrimp and squid to cook.
- If using this boiling water, the shrimp and squid need to be thoroughly cleaned and the fishy smell eliminated.
Add carrots and corn to the pot. Wait for the water to boil again, then add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning powder, 1/2 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, and 10g of rock sugar, then stir well to dissolve all the seasonings.
Next, add snow mushrooms and hairy mushrooms to the pot, stirring well.
Dissolve 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of tapioca flour with 50ml of water, then gradually pour it into the pot, continuing to stir until the soup reaches the desired thickness.
Finally, beat 2 eggs, then slowly drizzle them into the pot while gently stirring to create beautiful egg swirls in the soup.
Turn off the heat, ladle the soup into bowls, sprinkle with a little ground pepper and finely chopped cilantro, and it’s done.
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Final Product
The seafood hairy soup has an extremely attractive color and aroma. The broth is rich and carries a sweet and refreshing flavor from the vegetables, with a chewy and crunchy texture from the shrimp and squid, making the dish delicious and highly nutritious.
To enhance the flavor, you can add a little soy sauce and sesame oil when serving!
How to choose and where to buy angel hair
- Angel hair, also known as Cheo Mai seaweed, grows and develops in sweet water environments, with fine hair-like strands, dark green color.
- Currently, most of the angel hair sold in the market is dried. You can buy them at supermarkets or markets that specialize in Japanese or Korean products, or on reputable e-commerce sites.
- When buying, carefully check the packaging, expiration date, and avoid purchasing any that show white or black mold, or where the angel hair is no longer long and has broken into pieces.
How to choose good chicken eggs
- Observe the eggshell: Fresh chicken eggs usually have a dark brown shell, even in color, with no cracks or black spots. In contrast, older eggs will have a pale shell and more black spots.
- Use your sense of touch when handling the egg: If the shell surface is rough and slightly coarse, it is a fresh chicken egg; if the surface is smooth, the egg has been stored for a while.
- Gently shake the egg: If there is no sound, it is a fresh chicken egg. Conversely, if there is noise, the egg has been stored for a long time; the louder the sound, the more likely the egg is spoiled or is an egg that a hen is currently incubating.
See details: How to choose good chicken eggs
How to choose fresh and delicious shrimp
- Fresh and delicious shrimp will have transparent legs that are firmly attached to the shrimp body. Do not buy shrimp with discolored legs that are loose.
- Pay attention to buying shrimp with slightly curved bodies, firm meat, intact shells, and heads firmly attached to the body.
- Do not buy shrimp with spread-out, loose tails, missing tail fins, and not neatly stacked together. They may have been caught for a long time or soaked in preservatives.
See details: How to choose good shrimp
How to quickly and correctly remove the shrimp’s back string
- You count backward from the shrimp’s tail up to the second groove connecting the two segments of the shrimp shell, insert a toothpick through this position and gently pull the black string to remove it from the shrimp.
- You don’t need to use a knife to cut the shrimp’s back; you can also use a toothpick to dig out the head of the shrimp to find the black string. Gently pull this black string out with your hand, and the shrimp will be clean.
Above are 3 ways to cook delicious angel hair soup with a super quick and simple recipe. Let’s join TasteVN in the kitchen to treat the family!
*Refer to images and recipes from YouTube channels Mon Ngon Moi Ngay, Bếp Nhà TV, and 10H10 Food
