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.

Mi Do Bien Recipe (Seafood Noodle Soup Recipe)

It's been windy and cloudy in the Bay Area and we just changed all the comforters and blankets, so everyone is comfy and cozy in their beds. Having hearty, warm meals helps out a lot during the rest of the day, and being Vietnamese, I can’t think of anything heartier than soup. Soup is probably the quintessential comfort food in Vietnamese cuisine. I’ve made many types in the past, and today I created a Vietnamese egg noodle soup with seafood, called mì đồ biển.

The soup consists of flavorful fish stock with fresh egg noodles, shrimp, quail eggs, baby squid and halibut (or any white fish). It is completed with Chinese chives (called hẹ in Vietnamese) and green onions.

Papaya Soup Recipe (Canh Du Du)

I love incorporating fruits in savory dishes. Soups are a great way to do it, and today I made a soup similar to Vietnamese pumpkin soup (canh bí), but substituted ripe papaya for the pumpkin. It's called "canh đu đủ" in Vietnamese. I made the soup using chicken stock; you could use fish stock, vegetable broth or any other of your favorite flavorings. The natural sweetness from the papaya balances the flavors of a soup broth very well. At first sight, the beautiful orange color is reminiscent of fall colors due to the presence of carotenes in papaya. The flavor is quite different though. If you're looking for a healthy, flavorful soup, this is it.

In addition to tasting delicious, in Asian culture, old wives' tales say that papaya soup increases lactation for breastfeeding women. True or not, if you've just given birth, this recipe could help.

Che Bap Recipe (Vietnamese Sweet Corn Pudding)

Chè is difficult to describe. It's a sweet, soupy pudding served in a small bowl. As I've mentioned before, Vietnamese desserts are mildly sweet and don't always have the most appealing presentation. Chè definitely fits this description. As a child, Maman used to make it very often, especially for the Buddhist prayer rituals (cúng). This version of chè is made with corn and coconut milk; it's called chè bắp in Vietnamese. It can be eaten warm or cold. This dessert can be made all year round; during the summer, I use fresh corn off the cob. When the weather gets cold, as it has over the past few days, canned corn kernels work just fine.

Chè bắp is generally topped witt a thick, syrupy coconut sauce and slightly toasted white sesame seeds. This is probably one of my favorite Asian sweets.

Muop Tau Hu Xao Recipe (Vietnamese Loofah and Tofu Stir-fry)

Mướp tàu hũ xào (loofah squash and tofu stir-fry) is a standard in Vietnamese vegetarian cuisine. Mướp (Vietnamese Loofah) is stir-fried along with tofu in black bean sauce and chili garlic sauce. The dish is seasoned with soy sauce and fried garlic. I also added straw mushrooms as a foil to the loofah. It's a very quick and easy dish I often make when I'm in a rush and I want a tasty, healthy meal.

Vietnamese loofah is a very common vegetable in Vietnam that is also used a lot in making canh ("soup" in Vietnamese) because of its natural sweetness and tender texture. You won't be disappointed by this, and if you like it, it’s easy to put together non-vegetarian versions.