Eastern Chinese Soup

Serves four
Preparation: about 10 minutes
Cooking: 50 minutes
Difficulty level: easy

Ingrédients

• 400 g knuckle of beef
• 1 packet of egg noodles
• 2 tomatoes
• 2 carrots
• 1 onion
• 1 pak choi
• 100 g soybean sprouts
• 2 cm of ginger
• 2 star anise pods
• A little bit of spicy soybean paste
• Chives, coriander
• 1.5 L water

Method

Cut the knuckle of beef into large chunks (around 6 cm) and blanch for five minutes in boiling water, to remove impurities like blood in the meat. Rinse, drain and cut into cubes of 2 by 2 cm. Set aside.
Cut the onion into thin slices, chop the garlic and peeled ginger, peel and cut the tomatoes and carrots into 2 cm slices.
Brown the ginger, onion, garlic and star anise in a bit of sunflower oil for three minutes. Put all the seasoning in boiling water along with the carrots and a spoon of spicy soybean paste for four minutes. 
Put the knuckle of beef and tomatoes in the soup, cover and simmer for 40 minutes, then remove the beef. Cook the noodles, the pak choi and a few soybean sprouts in the boiling water for five minutes. Place the beef and noodles in a bowl, then add some of the broth. Sprinkle with chives and coriander.

BY XIAO CHI

Xiao Chi is a genuine Chinese eatery located a stone’s throw from the Opera House. Its name can be translated as ’street food snacks’. Rather than deep-fried food and seductively fragrant dishes, this establishment gives pride of place to steam cooking and fresh ingredients. Remove any images of aquariums, tables heaving with more dishes than you could ever possibly eat, and ice creams with mini umbrellas from your mind. At Xiao Chi, the focus is on authenticity and striking the right balance of flavours. On the menu for the 22nd of January 2023, when the year of the rabbit is officially welcomed in, you can enjoy a ravioli soup, beautifully presented bao zi (steamed buns), or a delicious chicken and Shiitake mushroom stew. All this and more is served in the warm, welcoming interior, with charming little touches like the bamboo steamer baskets hanging from the wooden beams.