Chinese ABC soup is one of the most comforting and simplest soups my mum would make when I was young. It’s refreshing, appetising, healthy, and simple to make. Starting with a light broth made with tomatoes, carrots, onions, and potatoes, the soup has a refreshing, flavourful base that bursts with natural sweetness. Simmered with marinated chicken, the flavours meld beautifully with savoury goodness. As you take a sip, the corn kernels pop in your mouth with sweetness, while the delicate ribbons of egg add a silky texture! Each spoonful is studded with vibrant veggies, bringing colour and nutrition to every bite.
This ABC soup is my go-to remedy soup whenever I’m feeling under the weather. The combination of tangy, sweet, and savoury flavours stimulate your appetite while offering essential nutritions for recovery. You can even add cooked rice or pasta to a bowl of ABC soup to make it a complete meal!
Table of contents
What makes this Chinese ABC soup so good
- Simple to make: It is easy to prepare with simple ingredients and minimal efforts, making it a go-to choice for simple meals.
- Balance of flavours: The natural sweetness of carrots and corn complements the tangy acidity of tomatoes, creating a harmonious and delicious flavour profile.
- Comforting and nourishing: This soup is the perfect nourishing option especially during colder months or when you’re feeling unwell.
- Versatile and customisable: You can easily customise the soup with more veggies like tofu and proteins like chicken or pork ribs!
What is Chinese ABC soup?
The reason why it’s called an ABC soup is because its basic ingredients include carrots (rich in vitamin A), potatoes (loaded with vitamin B), and tomatoes (high in vitamin C). Another reason is because it’s relatively simple to make, as easy as ABC!
Health benefits of ABC soup
- Rich in nutrients: The combination of vegetables in this soup provides your body with vitamins, potassium, and antioxidants that boost the immune system.
- Digestive health: The fiber content from the vegetables in this soup aids in digestion.
- Low in calories: This dish is a great low-calorie meal option, perfect for those looking to manage their weight while getting essential nutrients.
- Comforting and soothing: The warm broth can soothe a sore throat and provide comfort, helping to alleviate feelings of cold or chills.
Ingredients for Chinese ABC soup
- Vegetables: The basic ingredients for ABC soup are carrots, tomatoes, and potatoes. I added in corn and onions for a more complex flavour profile. I cut out the corn kernels from the cob to add extra crunch in every sip!
- Protein: You can have the soup as is but adding in chicken or pork ribs boost the soup with savoury goodness, making it extra flavourful.
- Marinade: To enhance the flavour of the chicken, I marinated it with some cornstarch, salt, sugar, soy sauce, and ginger. These tenderise the chicken and remove its smell as well.
- Seasonings: Add in salt and ketchup to enhance the flavours.
- Cornstarch and coarse salt: Instead of blanching the chicken pieces before simmering in the soup, I soaked them in water with a generous amount of cornstarch and coarse salt. This not only removes the impurities and smell of chicken, but also makes them much more tender!
- Water: For the broth.
- Eggs: For the egg drop soup.
How to make Chinese ABC soup
- Mix the chicken pieces with a generous amount of cornstarch and coarse salt, then soak in water for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the vegetables by chopping tomatoes, onions, and carrots into chunks. Leave the potatoes for later as the potato flesh will oxidise and turn brown.
- After 20 minutes, rinse the chicken with water to wash away the impurities.
- Mix the chicken pieces with cornstarch, salt, sugar, and soy sauce. Give them a massage for better absorption. Leave them to marinate as you cook the broth.
- Hold the ear of the corn slightly angled, slice down all sides of the corn to remove the kernels. Set aside.
- Transfer the tomatoes, carrots, onions, and corn cobs into a huge pot, pour in water, and cook the broth over medium-high heat until the tomatoes begin to soften (about 15 minutes).
- Peel the potato skin and slice the potatoes in half (or chunks, depending on the size of your potatoes), then transfer them into the broth. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for about 30 minutes.
- Transfer the marinated chicken and corn kernels into the pot, give it a mix, and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour to allow the flavours to meld.
- In a bowl, beat the eggs until well mixed.
- Reduce the heat to low. Slowly drizzle the beaten eggs into the simmering broth, and stir gently. This will create thin ribbons of egg.
- Season the broth with some salt and ketchup and enjoy!
Success tips for making Chinese ABC soup
Soak chicken pieces in water with cornstarch and coarse salt.
This step makes a whole lot different to the flavour and texture of the chicken! It helps to remove the smell of chicken meat, maintain its moisture to make it extremely tender, and “cleans” the chicken by washing away the blood and impurities as you rinse them off.
Massage the chicken with the marinade.
This allows the chicken to absorb the marinade better and create a “protection layer” that secures the moisture and juice within the chicken, ensuring tender pieces after cooking!
Do a taste test.
Taste as you go. Adjust with salt/pepper and ketchup to suit your preferences.
How to store leftovers?
Let the soup cool to room temperature then place the pot in the refrigerator. Alternatively, you can transfer the cooled soup to an airtight container, and store in the fridge. This will last for 3-4 days.
With tender pieces of chicken enveloped in a healthy vegetable broth, this hearty soup bursts with natural sweetness and savoury goodness. Perfect for a chilly day or a cosy family dinner, this Chinese ABC soup is not only nourishing, but also packed with essential nutritions.
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Chinese ABC Soup
Ingredients
- 6-7 tomatoes
- 2 carrots
- 2-3 corns separate corn kernels from corn cobs
- 1 whole chicken skin removed and chopped into pieces
- 1 onion chop into chunks
- 5 small potatoes chop into chunks
- 2.5 L water
- 2 eggs (for the egg drop)
- 1 tsp salt (for seasoning)
- 1 tbsp ketchup (for seasoning)
For cleansing the chicken and removal of smell
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 2 tsp coarse salt
- Water
For the marinade
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 4 pcs ginger
Instructions
Preparation
- Mix the chicken pieces with a generous amount of cornstarch and coarse salt, then soak in water for 20 minutes. This cleanses the chicken, tenderises it, and helps remove its smell.
- Meanwhile, prepare the vegetables by chopping tomatoes, onions, and carrots into chunks. Leave the potatoes for later as the potato flesh will oxidise and turn brown.
- After 20 minutes, rinse the chicken with water to wash away the impurities.
- Mix the chicken pieces with cornstarch, salt, sugar, and soy sauce. Give them a massage for better absorption. Leave them to marinate as you cook the broth.
- Hold the ear of the corn slightly angled, slice down all sides of the corn to remove the kernels. Set aside.
Cook the soup
- Transfer the tomatoes, carrots, onions, and corn cobs into a huge pot, pour in water, and cook the broth over medium-high heat until the tomatoes begin to soften (about 15 minutes).
- Peel the potato skin and slice the potatoes in half (or chunks, depending on the size of your potatoes), then transfer them into the broth. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for about 30 minutes.
- Transfer the marinated chicken and corn kernels into the pot, give it a mix, and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour to allow the flavours to meld.
- In a bowl, beat the eggs until well mixed.
- Reduce the heat to low. Slowly drizzle the beaten eggs into the simmering broth, and stir gently. This will create thin ribbons of egg.
- Season the broth with some salt and ketchup and enjoy!
