Mama Nguyen’s Bun Rieu Through Annie’s Window

I am very excited to share this recipe with you all because it is one of my favorite Vietnamese soups - Bun Rieu. The broth in Bun Rieu is tomato-based and mixed in you have crabmeat, shrimp, pork ribs, and fresh cut tomatoes served with rice stick noodles.

What makes this soup more special to me is that it is my mom’s recipe, Mama Nguyen’s Bun Rieu. Every Vietnamese house-hold makes this soup differently with unique garnishes. This is how my mom prepares it. Let’s get cooking…

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Feed: 3-5 people

Appliance: Le Creuset 3 ½ Qt Round Dutch Oven or Medium/Large Pot of choice

INGREDIENTS

1 pack of Rice Stick noodles 2 lbs of sliced pork ribs 1 lb ground pork 1 lb shrimp 3 whole sliced tomatoes 6 whole minced garlic 1 whole minced shallots 1 pack fried tofu 2 tbsp fish sauce 1 canned crabmeat or fresh crabmeat 1 jar of crab paste 2 cubes of bun rieu soup seasoning ½ bag of dried small shrimp 1 tbsp rock sugar 2 egg 2 tbsp kosher salt

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Using your medium or large size pot, filled with water half way and bring to a boil, add your rice stick noodles to cook for about 10-12 minutes until it is cooked through. Drain rice sticks, strain with cold water and let it sit to dry. 2. Using the same pot add water halfway and add your sliced pork ribs on medium high and cook for about 5 minutes. Drain the pot with the pork and put the pork back into the pot and fill with water halfway again. Add your dried shrimp and rock sugar. Bring to medium heat 5-7 minutes. 3. Now prepare your crab meat mixture, combine your crabmeat, ground pork, smashed shrimp, and only the crab paste. Reserve the crab paste oil on the side. Stir your mixture together and add your egg and combine. Leave on the side. 4. Sliced your tomatoes and, using a nonstick pan add crab paste oil that you reserved on medium heat. Add shallots, onions, and sliced tomatoes. Slowly stir for 2-3 minutes and turn off heat. 5. Going back to your pot, add ½ of the crabmeat mixture (save the other ½ for next time use), cubes of bun rieu soup seasoning, salt, and tomatoes. Cook on medium high for 10-15 minutes. Slowly stir. Add your fried tofu and allow to cook for 10 minutes more. 6. Your bun rieu is ready to enjoy, take your cooked rice stick noodles, placed in a bowl, and pour the bun rieu soup over it. Add more salt, fish sauce and veggies to enjoy based on taste. Enjoy!