Simple nutritious, Chinese ABC Soup made with vegetables and chicken. One of the best hearty soup recipes that all kids and adults can enjoy. All you need are a choice of meat with bones, mixed vegetables, salt, and pepper to taste.
Who doesn't love a hearty simple soup? A warm bowl of soup is great to have on chilly days or any time of the year. If you love to cook delicious comfort soups at home, you also like to try out our family's favorite Chinese Beef Noodle Soup and Chicken and Sweetcorn Soup recipes.
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What is ABC Soup?
One of the most asked questions is why this soup is called ABC. I've learned from my family that this soup is healthy and nutritious and rich in vitamins A, B, and C. Carrots are rich in vitamin A, potatoes are rich in vitamin B and tomatoes are rich in vitamin C. You can either cook this soup with meat or only with vegetables. Simmer the ingredients for about one hour, until all the flavour is infused into the soup. Do not mistake this soup with alphabet pasta soup.
This soup is very popular in Malaysia, Singapore, China, and Southeast Asian countries. Even though the cooking method and ingredients are simple, the taste is not bland. It's savoury, sweet, and a bit tangy.
There is no exact same method to create this soup, each family has its own recipe and you can customize it to your taste.
What do we need?
This is an easy ABC soup recipe and the basic ingredients are chicken, carrot, potato, onion, sweet corn, tomatoes, and water. You can add extra vegetables, fresh herbs, and seasonings to your taste.
Chicken - Highly recommend using bone-in chicken pieces as the soup base made with bones is rich and more flavourful. I usually use chicken drumsticks for this recipe. Authentic Chinese and Malaysian ABC soup is usually made with chicken bones or pork bones.
You can add whole chicken cuts, chicken wings, or a choice of meaty bones. Anchovies and dried shrimps can be also added for extra umami flavour.
Vegetables - Potatoes, onions, carrots, sweet corn, celery, ginger, tomatoes, and spring onions are classic vegetables that we love to add.
How to prepare vegetables - Cut the hard vegetables into big chunks, and cut tomatoes into wedges or large dice. Thinly slice the ginger, celery, and spring onions.
Potatoes - Add waxy potatoes such as Maris Piper, Charlotte, Jersy Royals, etc. Waxy potatoes hold their shape better when you simmer them with low heat. If you cannot get waxy potatoes feel free to add your choice of potatoes.
Seasonings - You will need 2 basic seasoning ingredients salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
How to make it
- First prepare the gather the ingredients by cutting the vegetables into large cubes and slices.
- Fill the large pot with water and bring it to boil. Add the chicken pieces and blanch them in the boiling water just for 1-2minutes. Drain the water out and rinse the chicken with cold water.
- Place the chicken drumsticks back in the pot, and add carrot, potato, sweet corn, onion, celery, and ginger slices. Pour the water in and bring it to boil. ( Add enough water to cover the chicken and vegetables. ) Add salt to taste.
- Then reduce the heat, close the lid and simmer with low-medium heat for about 30 minutes, then add the tomatoes. Continue to cook for another 15 minutes, or until the chicken and vegetables are tender.
- Add freshly ground black pepper. Make a taste test and adjust salt to taste.
- Transfer to a serving bowl, and sprinkle chopped spring onions. Enjoy!
Top Tips
- Make sure to simmer with low to low-medium heat. Boiling with high heat might create mushy vegetables and cloudy soup.
- Remove chicken skin and any excess fat before blanching them. Adding chicken skin might create an oily soup texture.
- You can also add extra seasonings like MSG, chicken bouillon ( stock cubes ), or vegetable stock cubes.
Slow cooker and Instant Pot Option
Slow cooker - Blanch and rinse the chicken drumsticks first, then add in the slow cooker together with vegetables, except tomatoes and celery. Add seasonings, close the lid and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Then stir in celery and tomatoes and cook additional 30 minutes or until the tomatoes are soft and tender.
Instant pot/pressure cooker - Cook with soup/stew function or cook on high for 20-25 minutes, then release the pressure and let it cook for another 10-15 minutes. You might want to reduce the water amount as cooking with a pressure cooker or instant pot does not lose liquid much like simmering on the stovetop.
How to serve this soup?
You can serve this soup on its own as a side dish or add rice/egg noodles and make it an ABC noodle soup. We love to pair it with a bowl of plain rice or egg-fried rice. To make a complete family dinner, you can pair this soup with Yuk Sung ( Chinese Lettuce Wraps ), Beef Fried Rice, Glass Noodle Stir Fry, or your choice of appetizers and main dishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any leftover soup, you can store it in an air-tight container and keep it in the fridge. It usually lasts in the fridge for a couple of days.
Reheat it in the microwave or over the stovetop until piping hot. Add freshly chopped spring onions or coriander to freshen up the soup.
To make vegetarian ABC soup, you can simply omit the chicken, and add only vegetables. You can add extra vegetables like onions, carrots, or sweet corn.
More delicious Chinese soup recipes
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ABC Soup
Equipment
- Large heavy bottom pot
Ingredients
- 450-500 gram Chicken drumsticks Or chicken with bones ( About 15 oz )
- 1 Potato Cut big cubes
- 1 Carrot Cut big cubes
- 2 Tomatoes Cut wedges
- 1 Onion Cut big cubes
- 1 thumb Ginger Cut thin slices
- 1 stick Celery Cut thin slices
- 1 tsp Salt or salt to taste
- ½ tsp Black pepper or to taste
- 2-3 Spring onion Cut thin slices
- 1½ Cup Water Or add more water if needed
Instructions
- First prepare the gather the ingredients by cutting the vegetables into large cubes and slices.
- Fill the large pot with water and bring it to boil. Add the chicken pieces and blanch them in the boiling water just for 1-2minutes. Drain the water out and rinse the chicken with cold water.
- Place the chicken drumsticks back in the pot, add carrot, potato, sweet corn, onion, celery, and ginger slices. Pour the water in and bring it to boil. ( Add enough water to cover the chicken and vegetables. ) Add salt to taste.
- Then reduce the heat, close the lid and simmer with low-medium heat for about 30 minutes, then add the tomatoes. Continue cook for another 15 minutes, or until the chicken and vegetables are tender.
- Add freshly ground black pepper. Make a taste test and adjust salt to taste.
- Transfer to a serving bowl, sprinkle chopped spring onions. Enjoy!
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