Rice Noodle Soup

Ingredients

• 100 g small dried squid
• 1 kg lean spare ribs
• 500 g daikon radish
• 1 onion
• 1 tsp black peppercorns
• 2 tbsp pickled daikon (ready-made)
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 400 g pork neck
• 3 tbsp Soy sauce
• 1 tsp five-spice powder (Asian market)
• 400 g thin round rice noodles (bun)
• 8 peeled raw giant shrimp (about 200 g)
• 100 g bean sprouts
• 4 Spring Onions
• 2 bunches Vietnamese herbs (e.g., coriander leaves, Thai basil, Polygonum, long-leaf cilantro…)
• 2 limes
• crunchy shallots (fried in oil)
• fish sauce (or chili dip)

Instructions

1. 1.

   Soak the squid in lukewarm water for 15 minutes, drain and rinse well. Cut spare ribs into individual pieces. Wash and roughly chop daikon radish; halve the onion with skin on. Combine everything with 4 liters of water in a large pot, add peppercorns, pickled daikon, fish sauce, and soy sauce, and bring to a boil.

2. 2.

   Once the broth has boiled vigorously, let it simmer for 2–3 hours; aim for 2.5–3 liters of liquid remaining. Skim foam regularly. Carefully strain the broth through a damp muslin or fine sieve. Discard solids.

3. 3.

   Cut pork neck into strips 3–4 cm wide and 10 cm long. Mix soy sauce with five-spice powder, marinate the meat for at least 30 minutes. Soak rice noodles in cold water for 30 minutes. Split giant shrimp lengthwise, remove the vein, and rinse briefly if desired.

4. 4.

   Wash, trim, and finely slice spring onions. Wash herbs and break off thick stems. Cut limes into wedges. Arrange all on small plates or bowls for serving.

5. 5.

   Cook the marinated meat in a non-stick grill pan or on a grill from both sides for 6–8 minutes, then slice thinly. Bring broth to a boil, cook shrimp for about 1 minute. Simultaneously, cook rice noodles in plenty of boiling salted water according to package instructions (1–2 minutes until al dente), drain and distribute into preheated soup bowls. Add bean sprouts with the meat and shrimp, pour hot broth over, and serve immediately.

6. 6.

   Add herbs, lime juice, shallots and oil, fish sauce or dip to taste as desired.