Chinese Cabbage Soup

Classically simple clear soups such as this one are served in many Chinese homes. It’s consumed as a beverage throughout the meal, so it must be light and refreshing. The Chinese leaves add a touch of sweetness while the preserved vegetables add a nice bite.

Top tip: If you want the soup to be completely vegetarian, you can substitute water or vegetable stock for the chicken stock.

Serves: four

Ingredients

• 2 litres of chicken or pork stock
• 450g Chinese cabbage (shredded width-wise)
• 125g Sichuan preserved vegetables (rinsed thoroughly and finely chopped)
• 1 tbsp light soy sauce
• 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 2 tbsp Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry
• 2 tbsp sugar
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp sesame oil

Garnish

• Spring onions (chopped)

Method

1. Put the stock into a medium-sized pot and bring it to a simmer.
2. Add the Chinese cabbage and preserved vegetables, then simmer for 3 minutes. 
3. Next, add the soy sauces, Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry and sugar to the simmering stock and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Salt and pepper to taste, then stir in the sesame oil. Transfer to a large soup tureen or individual soup bowls. Garnish and serve at once