ABC soup is just one of the many nutritious Chinese soups many families enjoy. It consists of a number of vegetables like carrots, tomatoes, maize, potatoes and onions.
To get the most of the nutritional values out of these vegetables, it is simmered under low heat for a long period of time.
Do not worry that the vegetables might be mushy when the soup is ready. Only the onions and tomatoes would be extremely soft. But this adds so much flavours to the soup, making is pleasantly sweet.
What Does ABC Soup Stand For?
It is called ABC soup because of the ease of cooking this soup and also the vitamins A, B, and C available in the soup. It’s the nutrients you get from potatoes, carrots and tomatoes.
Chicken, Pork or Anchovies as Base?
While such soups usually use pork or chicken as the base, my mother loves using anchovies. A little bit of anchovies go a long way. The saltiness from the anchovies makes the soup extremely tasty.
ABC Soup Without Meat
ABC Soup can be boiled without meat. In the recent years, however, my mother began cooking a vegetarian version of the ABC soup. She puts more onions into the soup to add sweetness and sometimes maize or beetroot to enhance the flavour.
If you are feeling adventurous, a celery stalk can also make a great difference to the soup.
Using Slow Cooker
In this recipe, I allowed the soup to boil before reducing the heat to let it simmers for 1.5 hours. However, cooking soups using the slow cooker makes it even easier.
It is recommended to cook the soup for 6-8 hours on low heat to allow the vegetables to slowly release their nutrients. Otherwise, cook at high heat for 3-4 hours. It's that simple.
There should not be any excuse to stop you from cooking this wholesome and marvelous soup to go with your meals.
Pressure Cooker Settings
Check if the "soup" function is available. Simply turn it on and it should take about 50 minutes.
Otherwise, cook the soup for 25 minutes over high heat. Release the pressure and let it cook for another 20 minutes. Turn the heat off.
Overnight ABC Soup
If you have extras, ABC soup can be kept overnight. When the soup is kept refrigerated in an airtight container, the soup can last up to 3 days or the vegetables will turn bad.
To reheat the soup, bring it to boil in a pot and simmer over medium heat for at least 20 minutes. I like to add a few spoonful of water before boiling because soup will reduce while heating.
ABC Soup for Babies
Many of us grew up drinking this soup. For babies, you may want to avoid serving this soup as it contains tomatoes. The acidity from tomatoes may be harmful to babies' tummies. Hence, it's better to wait until they are at least 10-12 months before preparing ABC soup.
This soup is a favourite among parents because of the multiple vitamins it contains. Blending the vegetables into a smooth puree will make it easier for ingestion. Just remember to remove any traces of bones.
Enjoy the soup as a side dish with rice or just have it as it is. A hot bowl of soup on a cold winter day would keep you warm and comfortable.
Other Chinese Soups
I enjoy having slow cooked soups such as ABC soup, lotus root soup and watercress soup for its deliciousness. Also, for the comfort they give and the wonderful memories of growing up they evoke.