Chao Chay Recipe (Vietnamese Vegetarian Rice Soup)

We just stored all the holiday decorations and a new celebration is already upon us. Tết, the Asian New year is coming up in two weeks! I haven't bought cherry blossom flowers yet or decorated the house with red, but I’ll get to it soon. The other thing is that at the beginning of the year (Lunar calendar), it is auspicious to eat vegetarian food (ăn chay) on the last day of the previous year and first day of New Year. I recently made a delicious cháo bò (beef rice porridge), and I’ve created a vegetarian version to serve to the family.

Rice porridge is a typical Asian comfort food. I made this dish with tofu, carrots, daikon radishes, beech mushrooms and peas. Not only is it vegetarian, but it's also very healthy, which fits my New Year's resolution perfectly. I'm still trying to shed the extra baby weight! I'm going to be sharing a few Asian vegetarian dishes for you to try over the next few days, so come back soon!

Chao Thit Bo Recipe (Vietnamese Beef Rice Soup)

Cháo, or rice congee, is synonymous to me with cold remedies. As a child, this Vietnamese soup was Maman's antidote; the warmth is soothing for the throat and the soft texture makes it easy to consume. The soup contains a handful of rice which acts as a thickener for the flavorful broth. Today, I made my favorite version:  it's called cháo thịt bò, "beef rice soup" in Vietnamese.

I made my usual beef broth in the same manner as I would to prepare phở bò. I added oxtail bones, ginger and onions. My trick for never messing up this recipe is to cook the rice in small portions. I cook 3 cups of broth for a few tablespoons of rice. You’ll get a much better product if you prepare it in small batches. As soon as the rice thickens the beef broth, I add paper-thin slices of flank steak at the last minute along with fresh ginger and freshly cracked pepper.

Korean Tofu Soup with Rice Cakes

Rice cakes are made from glutinous rice flour. We buy them at the Korean market. They're a great alternative to bánh phở or ordinary noodles. What I love most about this product is  that they're made with no additives or preservatives. They're a favorite at our house. The texture is very nice, and works well in a simple, clear vegetable broth. If you're looking for a healthy meal, this is not your average diet cabbage soup.