How to choose fresh and delicious lean pork
- Choose pork that has a bright pink color, no strange smell, and the fat is translucent white. Meat that is pale and has an odor is usually old and not tasty.
- Press your hand into the meat and feel for elasticity; the meat should be firm and not leave a dent, and it should be dry without being sticky to the touch, indicating good quality.
- Absolutely do not buy if you see small grains resembling rice mixed in the meat because these could be harmful tapeworm eggs if ingested.
How to choose fresh and delicious shiitake mushrooms
- The shape of dried shiitake mushrooms is similar to that of fresh dried mushrooms, but they are lighter due to the drying process.
- Choose mushrooms that are not broken, and the caps should be a bright brown color (generally, there is not much change in color when the mushrooms are dried).
- Pay attention to the aroma, ensuring it is not musty or has any strange smell, and that the mushrooms do not have any white mold spots.
See more: How to choose fresh shiitake mushrooms
How to choose fresh and delicious carrots
- Choose carrots that are straight, with smooth skin, bright color, and feel firm and heavy in your hand.
- Avoid selecting carrots that have leaves or stems at the base, or those with a thick, large shoulder, as these are often carrots with large cores that are not sweet and have fewer nutrients.
- Do not buy carrots that are misshapen, dark in color, bruised, or have unusual spots.
See more: How to choose fresh carrots
Tools Required
Steamer, pot, bowls, knife, cutting board,…
How to Make Pig Brain Soup
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Prepare and Simmer the Pig Bones
Wash the pig bones and lean pork you bought with diluted salt water, then rinse several times with clean water and let drain.
To remove the smell of the pork, boil water and blanch the bone with the lean pork for about 3 – 4 minutes, then take it out.
Add 2 liters of water to the pot, then add the bone and lean pork along with 3 small shallots chopped, 1 teaspoon of seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/3 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, 1 teaspoon of sugar and simmer on low heat for about 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, when the lean pork is cooked, take it out, and continue to simmer for an additional 30 minutes to enhance the flavor of the broth.
Tip: To keep the broth clear and tastier, you should frequently skim the foam while simmering the bones!
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Preparing pig brain
When buying pig brain, soak it in diluted salt water for about 2 – 3 minutes, then use a sharp toothpick to remove all the membranes and blood vessels from the brain until it is completely clean, rinse gently with salt water and let it drain.
Tip to eliminate the fishy smell of pig brain:
- You must clean the membranes and blood vessels thoroughly!
- Additionally, to remove the odor, you can soak the pig brain in diluted white wine with a few crushed ginger pieces.
Place the pig brain in a bowl, season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Put a steaming pot on the stove, place the bowl of pig brain inside and steam it for about 20 minutes.
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Preparing other ingredients
Remove the stems from straw mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms, soak them in diluted salt water for about 10 minutes, then rinse them a few times with water. After that, drain and slice them thinly.
Soak the snow fungus in cold water for about 10 – 15 minutes until fully expanded, cut off the stem and rinse again with water. Then chop the snow fungus into small pieces.
Wash the green onions and coriander, then chop finely. Peel the carrot, wash it clean, cut it in half lengthwise, and then slice it thinly.
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Tear pork and beat eggs
The lean meat after boiling and cooling, you tear it into small pieces.
You crack 2 eggs into a bowl and beat them.
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Cook the soup
The bone broth has been simmered for 1 hour, you take out the bone and add the carrots to cook. After about 2 minutes, you continue to add straw mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, snow mushrooms, and shredded lean pork into the pot.
You strain the eggs into the soup pot, while adding, you also use a ladle to stir evenly so that the eggs blend into the soup.
To thicken the soup, you dilute 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with water and 2 tablespoons of tapioca flour, then gradually add the mixture to the pot and stir well. Cook for about 2 more minutes, season to taste, then turn off the heat.
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Final product
You serve the soup in a bowl, then add the pork brain, sprinkle with some finely chopped green onions and cilantro, and add a little ground pepper. The dish will taste better if served with some soy sauce and sesame oil!
The pork brain is rich and creamy, the soup is sweet and light, and the chewy lean pork will definitely be loved by your kids!
2. Pork brain soup cooked with oysters
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Preparation
20 minutes
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Cooking
30 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Pig Brain Soup with Oysters Serves 4 people
Pig brain 2 pieces Oyster meat 500 gr Chicken breast 300 gr Straw mushrooms 200 gr Tapioca starch 140 gr Chicken eggs 2 pieces Sesame oil A little Cilantro 3 sprigs Salt/seasoning powder A little
How to choose fresh and delicious ingredients
How to choose fresh oysters
- For the oyster shell: Choose oysters with a pointed top and tightly closed shells, as these are fresh oysters.
- For the oyster meat: Choose oysters that have their meat tightly attached and filling the shell, while also containing a lot of seawater. Avoid buying oysters that open easily when pried open, as they are dead and the meat will not be good.
- If buying shucked oysters, choose those with slightly yellowish translucent white meat, not pale white, and they should have the full inner part without any off-putting smell.
- Avoid choosing oysters that have a foul smell, are not whole, or have a greenish color, as they may be old, bitter, and fishy, thus not tasty.
How to choose fresh and delicious butter mushrooms
- Choose mushrooms with a white or light brown cap, short stems, and not too large.
- Select mushrooms that feel firm and not soft, with a smooth cap, and no black spots or bruises.
- Avoid mushrooms with shriveled caps, chips, or waterlogging.
How to choose fresh, delicious chicken breast
- When buying chicken breast, choose pieces that are light pink, bright, with a shiny surface and slightly firm. Avoid pieces that are dark in color as that indicates they are no longer fresh.
- Opt for chicken breast pieces that feel elastic when pressed, moist, dry, whole without being dry, leaking, or crumbly.
- Absolutely do not buy chicken breast that is pure white or has white spots as that indicates it has been affected by chemicals or growth hormones.
- When buying pre-packaged chicken breast, which is harder to inspect closely, pay attention to the quality of the packaging, and try to buy pieces produced on the same day to avoid getting stale ones.
How to make oyster pig brain soup
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Prepare pig brain
Buy pig brain and remove the thin membrane covering it, then gently remove all the blood vessels on the outside, wash clean with diluted salt water, and rinse again with clean water and let it drain.
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Prepare other ingredients
The oysters should be washed clean with diluted saltwater or vinegar to remove the slime and fishy smell.
The chicken breast should be washed under running water to easily rinse away all the dirt.
The button mushrooms should be washed clean, soaked in salt for 10 minutes, then cut off the stems and rinse again with clean water before slicing.
The cilantro should have any wilted or yellowed stems removed. Then wash it thoroughly and chop it finely.
Crack 2 eggs into a bowl, and use a chopsticks to beat them well. Add 140g of tapioca flour and 150ml of water to the mixture and stir until the flour is completely dissolved.
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Boil and shred the chicken breast
Place a pot of water on the stove; when the water starts to simmer, add the chicken breast and boil it on medium heat for about 7 – 10 minutes. Then remove the chicken breast, allow it to cool, and shred it into small pieces using your hands.
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Cooking Pork Brain Soup with Oysters
Using the pot you just boiled the chicken breast in, add about 1.5 liters of water.
When the water boils, add the shredded chicken breast and pork brain, then cook for about 3 minutes. After that, add the straw mushrooms and season with 3 tablespoons of seasoning, stirring gently to blend the ingredients together.
Tip: Remember to skim the foam. Doing this will make the soup clearer and the flavor much better.Wait until the soup is really boiling, then gradually add the tapioca flour mixture while continuously stirring the dish to dissolve the flour completely, and the mixture will start to thicken.
Next, add the eggs and stir similarly to the tapioca flour. Finally, add the oysters and cook for another 2 minutes before turning off the heat.
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Finished product
Scoop the soup into a bowl, add a little sesame oil, and sprinkle a bit of coriander on top, and you have a steaming hot, delicious bowl of pig brain soup with oysters.
The pig brain soup with oysters has an eye-catching color due to the variety of ingredients, and the flavor is very aromatic and enticing.
Sip a spoonful of soup, feeling the sweetness of the enoki mushrooms, the chewy tenderness of the chicken breast, and the rich, nourishing flavor of the pig brain and oysters. Your whole family will surely love this dish.
How to choose fresh and delicious pig brain
- You should go to the market early, choosing fresh pig brain from reputable sellers with clear origins.
- Choose pig brains that are bright pink, without cracks, and have a firm texture when touched.
- Do not select pig brains that are pale green, have a foul odor, are leaking, or have many flies around them.
How to properly clean pig brain without a strong smell
- Use a knife or a pair of scissors to make a cut down the middle of the pig brain, then use your hand to remove the membrane.
- Next, prepare a bowl of diluted saltwater, soak the pig brain in it, and start using a sharp object like a toothpick to separate all the blood vessels. After that, rinse it clean with water, and you have completed the cleaning of the pig brain.
See more:
Above are 2 ways to make pig brain soup and pig brain soup with oysters that are extremely nutritious and delicious. Let’s showcase your skills to make this appealing dish right away. Wish you success!
*Refer to images and recipes from 2 YouTube channels Delicious food and health and Anna Phuong Tran & Eating and cooking show
