Tomato Beef Soup with Vietnamese Coriander, known as “canh bò rau răm” in Vietnamese, is a rustic and traditional dish often enjoyed in family meals in Hanoi. This comforting soup features tender beef and tangy tomatoes, providing a delightful burst of flavors in every spoonful.
.)
This quick and easy beef soup embodies the simplicity of Vietnamese home cooking. The bright, citrusy, and peppery taste of Vietnamese coriander (rau răm) gives it a distinctive flavor and aroma.
With a perfect balance of savory, tangy, and herbal notes, it is one of our most favorite soups to serve with rice. We also love that it can be cooked in one pot from start to finish.
Ingredients
You will need the following main ingredients to make this Vietnamese beef soup.
Beef: Choose a tender and flavorful cut, such as sirloin or flank steak. Slice the meat against the grain into thin, small pieces. They should be smaller than beef slices for stir-fries.
Tomatoes: You’ll need ripe tomatoes cut into wedges. Tomatoes provide a tangy and slightly sweet flavor, complementing the richness of the beef. Choose bright red and firm tomatoes that yield slightly to the touch for the best taste.
Vietnamese coriander (rau răm): This unique herb is essential for the soup, as it brings a bright, peppery flavor with hints of citrus. If you’re unfamiliar with this herb, you can often find it at Asian markets or specialty grocery stores.
A little acidity: I recommend adding a squeeze of lime juice to brighten the soup and round out all the other flavors. In Vietnam, we have many types of sour fruits we can use to add acidity to a soup. Most of them are unavailable abroad, so I tested the recipe with a bit of lime juice, and it turned out great.
Other Ingredients
- Aromatics: onion and garlic
- Seasonings: salt, pepper, and fish sauce
- Optional ingredients: chopped scallions and several slices of bird’s eye chili
Cooking Steps
While canh bò rau răm is a simple dish to cook, there are some certain tricks and nuances that make it truly delicious. We’ll cover these key elements below and explain why they are needed.
1️⃣ First, slice the beef thinly against the grain into small pieces. Marinate with salt, pepper, cornstarch, and oil for about 15 minutes. This step will help the meat retain its juice and a pleasant texture when we cook it.
2️⃣ In a large pot, sauté onion and garlic until fragrant. I recommend using a heavy pot with a wide bottom. Add the beef to the pot and brown it until it is still slightly pink on the outside. You shouldn’t cook it all the way through at this stage.
3️⃣ Set the meat aside and add half of the tomatoes to the pot. Sauté for a few minutes until they are soft. Now, you can add water and bring the pot to a boil and skim off foam if needed.
4️⃣ Add the remaining tomatoes to the broth, together with some lime juice. Simmer for about 5-10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
5️⃣ Now, add the sautéed beef. Also add chopped scallion, Vietnamese coriander, and red chili if desired. Once the soup starts to boil again, transfer it to serving bowls and serve right away. Don’t overcook the beef, or it will be dry and tasteless.
How to Serve
You can serve this Hanoi tomato beef soup with Vietnamese coriander as part of a meal with steamed rice, a vegetable dish, and one or two savory dishes. Here are some savory dishes that may go well with the soup:
- Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Stir-Fry (Ga Xao Sa Ot)
- Vietnamese Grilled Eggplant with Scallion Oil (Ca Tim Nuong Mo Hanh)
- Vietnamese-style Caramelized Salmon (Ca Hoi Kho)
- Steamed Squid (Muc Hap)
- Vietnamese Fried Tofu with Scallions
- Vietnamese Rotisserie Chicken
We’d love to hear what you think about the dish, so please feel free to leave a comment and a rating if you have tried it.
