Canh Cai Bap Tom / Cabbage and Shrimp Soup
Vietnamese homestyle dishes weren’t created to impress anyone; They were created to feed and nourish families. So many of the meals I grew up with were built around whatever ingredients were accessible, cheap, and nutritious. A handful of vegetables. A small amount of protein. A light broth seasoned just enough to make you want another
- Prep time
- 20 min
- Cook time
- 20 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 1 Head Cabbage
- 4 Quarts Water
- 1 Small Shallot, Minced
- 2 Garlic Cloves, Minced
- 1 tbsp MSG
- 3 tbsp Fish Sauce
- 1 tbsp Oil
- 1 lb Head on Shell on Shrimp
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp White Pepper
- 1/4 tsp MSG
- Black Pepper
- Fried Garlic
- Cilantro
Instructions
- 1
Prep:
- 2
Cut cabbage into bite-sized pieces. Rinse thoroughly under cold water to remove dirt, then drain
- 3
Finely mince shallot and garlic. Rinse cilantro and trim off the woodsy stem ends for garnish
- 4
Process the Shrimp:
- 5
Rinse shrimp thoroughly. Remove heads and peel shells, then set heads and shells aside for the stock
- 6
Slice the shrimp meat in half lengthwise and devein. Add shrimp to a bowl and season with salt, white pepper, and MSG. Mix until evenly coated, then marinate for 5 to 10 minutes
- 7
Make the Canh Cai Bap Tom:
- 8
Heat a large pot over medium-high heat and add a splash of oil. Sauté minced shallots and garlic for about 1 minute or until fragrant
- 9
Add shrimp heads and shells and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often to release flavor. Pour in water and bring to a rolling boil, skim off any impurities, then lower the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes
- 10
Remove shrimp heads and shells from the pot, leaving a clean shrimp stock
- 11
Add cabbage and marinated shrimp. Season with MSG, and fish sauce. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until the cabbage is tender but still crisp, and the shrimp is fully cooked
- 12
Serve:
- 13
Ladle into bowls and top with black pepper, fried garlic, and cilantro. Serve with rice as part of a complete Vietnamese family meal