Delicious and Nutritious Butternut Squash and Pork Rib Soup Recipe

Soup is an essential part of Vietnamese family meals. Alongside familiar vegetable soups, butternut squash and pork rib soup is a fantastic choice that is both delicious and nutritious. This article will guide you through the detailed process of making butternut squash and pork rib soup, ensuring success on your first try.

Ingredients for butternut squash and pork rib soup

1. Preparing the Ingredients

• Pork ribs: 400 grams
• Butternut squash: 1 squash
• Shallots
• Green onions
• Seasonings: salt, seasoning powder, fish sauce, cooking oil

2. Selecting Fresh Ingredients

• Pork ribs: Choose young ribs with a fresh pink color, free from any foul or chemical smells. Press the meat to check if it’s dry and resilient, indicating freshness. Opt for smaller rib pieces as they tend to have more meat than larger ones.

How to choose fresh young pork ribs

• Butternut squash: Select a squash with a deep orange color, heavy for its size, and smooth skin. Avoid squashes with blemishes or rough surfaces. Darker-colored butternut squash is sweeter, creamier, and more nutritious.

3. Preparing the Ingredients

• Pork ribs: Wash thoroughly and cut into 3-4 cm pieces. Blanch the ribs in boiling water for 5-6 minutes to remove impurities. Remove the ribs, rinse with cold water to clean.
• Butternut squash: Peel, remove seeds, wash, and cut into bite-sized cubes. Cut the squash slightly thicker to prevent it from getting mushy during cooking.
• Shallots: Peel and finely chop.
• Green onions: Trim off the roots and wilted leaves, wash, and finely chop.

4. Cooking Butternut Squash and Pork Rib Soup

• Step 1: Sautéing the ribs: Sauté shallots in cooking oil until fragrant, add the ribs, and stir-fry evenly. Season with 2-3 tablespoons of fish sauce, stir until the ribs absorb the flavor.

Cooking the broth for butternut squash and pork rib soup

• Step 2: Simmering the ribs: Add water to the pot with the ribs and bring to a boil. Use more water than usual as it will reduce during simmering. Simmer the ribs for 45-60 minutes or until tender. A pressure cooker can be used to shorten the cooking time.
• Step 3: Adding butternut squash: Add the butternut squash to the pot with the ribs, continue to simmer for 5-7 minutes until the squash is tender. Do not fully cover the pot after the squash is cooked to prevent it from becoming mushy.
• Step 4: Seasoning: Adjust the seasoning to taste.

5. Serving

Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with green onions.

How to cook butternut squash and pork rib soup

A perfect butternut squash and pork rib soup has tender ribs, a clear and sweet broth, and creamy but not mushy squash. This soup can be enjoyed hot in both summer and winter. The sweet flavor of the ribs combined with the creamy taste of the butternut squash will surely make your family meals more appealing.