Description
This Vietnamese Mustard Green Soup with Shrimp Balls is a light and flavorful broth-based soup featuring tender shrimp meatballs and fresh mustard greens. Perfect as a healthy starter or accompanied by rice, this traditional Asian soup is simple to prepare and packed with umami from shrimp, fish sauce, and aromatic greens.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp Balls
- 1/2 lb raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 green onion, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon fish sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Soup
- 8 oz mustard greens, washed and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 4 cups chicken or pork broth
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- Additional salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare shrimp paste: Finely chop the shrimp or pulse in a food processor until a rough paste forms. Transfer to a bowl and combine thoroughly with chopped green onion, minced garlic, fish sauce, white pepper, sugar, salt, and cornstarch.
- Form shrimp balls: Shape the seasoned shrimp mixture into small balls about 1 inch in diameter, ensuring they are compact enough to hold together during cooking.
- Heat broth and cook shrimp balls: In a medium pot, heat vegetable oil over medium heat, then add the chicken or pork broth and bring it to a gentle boil. Carefully drop in the shrimp balls and let them simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, until they float to the surface and are cooked through.
- Add mustard greens: Stir in the chopped mustard greens and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes until the greens are just wilted but still vibrant.
- Season and serve: Taste the soup and adjust seasonings with additional salt or fish sauce if needed. Serve the soup hot alongside rice or as a light starter to your meal.
Notes
- For a heartier version, substitute or combine shrimp with ground pork when making the meatballs.
- If mustard greens are unavailable, use alternatives like choy sum or napa cabbage.
- Adding a slice of ginger to the broth during simmering enhances the soup’s depth of flavor.
