Carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, corn, and onions simmered in a delicious clear broth soup. This easy Chinese ABC soup recipe is comforting and nourishing. Made with simple ingredients on the stovetop or in a pressure cooker!
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ABC soup is a classic dish in many Cantonese households with origins from Malaysia. It features colorful vegetables boiled in a light broth made of pork or chicken.
So why is it called ABC Soup? Some say that it's rich in vitamin A from the carrots, B from potatoes and corn, and C from tomatoes. Others say it's from how simple the preparation is - easy as A-B-C!
This comforting vegetable soup is a staple in my mother's kitchen, and it remains my favorite even to this day. It's light yet flavorful, perfectly balanced, and nutritious.
Sometimes, I like to serve it with rice as a complete meal as you can eat the meat too.
Why you'll love this recipe:
- Made with humble ingredients.
- Easily cooked in one-pot.
- Make it on the stove or in a pressure cooker!
- Family-friendly.
- Restaurant-quality!
Ingredients & Substitutes
Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements:
- Pork Shoulder (aka Pork butt): or substitute with whole bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks, or pork neck bones.
- Tomatoes: I recommend using any medium to large tomatoes, like globe tomatoes (aka beefsteak tomatoes), Roma or Plum tomatoes. Avoid using grape or cherry tomatoes.
- Carrot
- Yellow Potatoes: or substitute with Yukon gold or white potatoes.
- Corn on the Cob
- Onion
- Water
- Chicken Bouillon Powder
- Salt
- Green Onions
Expert Tips
- For best flavor, use pork shoulder for a savory broth. For a cleaner-tasting soup, use bone-in chicken drumsticks or thighs.
- Chop the tomatoes into large wedges and potatoes into quarters, so they don't break down, and slice carrots into 1-inch-thick pieces so they keep firm.
- To prevent the potatoes from turning brown, chop them last or soak them in cold water, then strain before adding to the soup.
- Blanch the meat first to draw out impurities by boiling, then discard the water, and rinse the pork and pot before simmering.
- After the soup has simmered, skim off excess oil and any scum for a cleaner taste.
Instructions
Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make ABC soup:
- Blanch meat: Bring a large pot filled halfway with water to boil on medium-high heat. Add chopped pork and boil for 3-5 minutes until the scum surfaces.
- Rinse meat and pot: Discard the cloudy water, rinse the meat and pot to remove impurities. Add the meat back to the pot.
- Add vegetables and water: Add carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, corn, onions, and water to the pot.
- If cooking on the stovetop: Cover and bring to a boil on medium-high heat. Then reduce to low-medium heat simmering for 1 ½ to 2 hours, occasionally skimming off any scum from the surface. If using a Pressure Cooker: Seal the lid and valve and cook on high pressure for 45 minutes. Let the pressure naturally release for 20-30 minutes if you have time or do a quick release.
- Skim and season: Skim the soup to remove any oil or scum that surfaces. Season with chicken bouillon powder and salt to taste.
- Garnish and enjoy: Serve and garnish with green onions. Enjoy!
Storage & Reheating
- ABC Soup lasts up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge, once cooled. To enjoy, reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until hot throughout.
- ABC soup can be frozen for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe bag or container, once cooled. It's recommended to remove the potatoes or tomatoes from the soup as they will turn mushy after freezing. To enjoy, thaw the soup overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stovetop until hot.
Pairing Suggestions
ABC soup serves well on its own or with:
- steamed rice or even pasta noodles.
- cooked vegetables like bok choy, spicy garlic bok choy, choy sum, gai lan, garlic green beans or stir fried snow pea leaves.
- protein dishes like Steamed Chicken, Soy Sauce Chicken, Oven-Roasted Char Siu or Air Fryer Char Siu, or Chinese Roasted Pork Belly.
FAQ
ABC soup can be made up to 4 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge, once cooled. To enjoy, reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until hot throughout.
ABC soup can be made vegetarian or vegan by omitting the meat and chicken bouillon and replacing the water with a vegetable stock for more flavor.
Cloudy soup is often caused by simmering the broth at a high temperature, not blanching the meat first to remove impurities, or not skimming to remove oil and scum. To achieve a clear broth, simmer the soup on low-medium heat or use a pressure cooker.
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📖 Recipe
Easy ABC Soup (Instant Pot/Stovetop)
Ingredients
- 1 lb pork shoulder diced into 2-inch cubes (or use whole bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks)
- 2 medium tomatoes quartered into wedges
- 1 large carrot sliced into 1-inch-thick pieces
- 2 corn on the cob chopped into 2-inch-thick pieces
- 1 onion roughly chopped
- 2 medium Yellow potatoes or yukon gold / white potatoes - quartered
- 10 cups water cold or room temp
- ½ teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
- 1 teaspoon salt or add to taste
- 1 green onion finely chopped, optional garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot filled halfway with water to boil on medium-high heat. Add chopped pork and boil for 3-5 minutes until the scum surfaces.
- Discard the cloudy water, rinse the meat and pot to remove impurities. Add the meat back to the pot.
- Add carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, corn, onions, and water to the pot.
- If cooking on the stovetop: Cover and bring to a boil on medium-high heat. Then reduce to low-medium heat simmering for 1 ½ to 2 hours, occasionally skimming off any scum from the surface.If using a Pressure Cooker: seal the lid and valve and cook on high pressure for 45 minutes. Let the pressure naturally release for 20-30 minutes if you have time or do a quick release.
- Skim the soup to remove any oil or scum that surfaces. Season with chicken bouillon powder and salt to taste.
- Serve and garnish with green onions. Enjoy!
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