A light and easy broth which we have at home quite often, add
variations by adding different ingredients to the basic ones. I would
imagine it great in cold winter.
Bean Noodle Broth
(1) The 3 basic ingredients: baby nappa cabbage/ hairy cucumber/ bean
noodles
(2) Seasoning: salt/ ginger/ spring onions
(3) Add: any combination of other ingredients
3 Basic ingredients:
Nappa Cabbage -
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/cooking/text/0,1971,FOOD_9819_32256,00.html
The baby ones we have had are about 12cm in length. This cabbage
really sweetens the water. Chop into pieces or however you like it.
Hairy Cucumber - not as light as cucumber, and not as dense as
courgette. Peeled, sliced, then cut slice into about 1/2 cm wide
stripes, I don't know why I think this shape taste better???
Bean Noodles - made with mung beans, looks a bit like rice noodles when
uncooked and dry, but translucent when cooked. Can soak in water till
soft before cooking, I am a bit lazy so just but it in the mix when
cooking those veg, cooks pretty quickly.
Seasoning:
I think it only requires salt, ginger and spring onions. I don't think
it needs garlic, and prefer the ginger in thin strips and spring onions
in around 2cm long pieces because I eat those - if don't eat those i.e.
only use them for flavouring then can smash a big clump of ginger and
chop spring onion in half or longer pieces so that they're easier to
take out after cooking.
Any combination of ingredients:
There are so many things one can choose to mix in depending on
preference, e.g. Dried shrimps (really add taste to mix), A Mix of
different types of fish balls (
http://www.bigwhiteguy.com/photos/images/1430.jpg These really are
great and easy! Some have fillings inside, usually sold frozen in
markets), Wild Mushrooms, Sugar Snap Pea, etc.
A note:
Put the ingredients that takes more time to cook into the simmering
water first with ginger (if having ginger), then add others later.