Simple Vietnamese Papery Dried Shrimp and Tomato Soup
Let me introduce another rustic Vietnamese dish that is usually enjoyed in daily meals: papery dried shrimp and tomato soup (canh cà chua nấu tép). It’s a very easy, simple, and healthy soup to serve along with cooked rice.
Table of Contents
How Does Papery Dried Shrimp and Tomato Soup Taste?
This soup is savory with the natural umami flavor from papery dried shrimp combined with the slight tanginess of tomato. The dried shrimp, after cooking, become softer and hydrated, giving an interesting texture when biting.
What Is Papery Dried Shrimp?
Papery dried shrimp, often referred to as “papery shrimp” or “tiny dried shrimp,” are very small shrimp that have been dried until they become light and papery in texture. Once these shrimp are dried, they become light, slightly crispy, and papery; that’s why they are called “papery shrimp”. Popular in Vietnamese, Chinese, or Thai cuisines, these tiny dried shrimps can play as a seasoning or flavoring ingredient in soup or stir-fry dishes.
Ingredients
As a simple dish for daily meals, the ingredients of this soup are pretty simple with only tomato, shallot, and dried shrimp. To adjust the flavor, we’ll just use a bit of salt.
- Tomatoes: Opt for fresh, ripe tomatoes; they will give your soup the right tanginess and softness.
- Papery Dried Shrimp: Remember to check the date of your dried shrimp. If there are signs of odor, you should throw away the whole package.
- Shallots: A small amount of shallot is used to add aroma to the soup.
Where to Buy Papery Dried Shrimp?
As an Asian ingredient, papery dried shrimp is sold mainly in Asian grocery stores. You can also buy it online by searching the name “papery dried shrimp” or “tiny dried shrimp”. If you are living in Southeast Asia, it’s possible to buy fresh tiny shrimp. In Vietnam, their name is “tép”. I always prefer fresh tiny shrimp to the dried ones; however, to preserve this ingredient longer, papery dried shrimp is the best option.
Instruction
- Divide the tomatoes into 2 halves. Dice one half into small pieces for stir-frying and cut the other half into wedges to drop in the soup later.
- Slice the shallots thinly. In a pot, sauté the shallots with 1 teaspoon of cooking oil on medium heat until fragrant, then add the diced tomato and stir-fry. When the tomato softens, add the papery dried shrimp into the pot and stir briefly.
- Add water along with the tomato wedges to the pot. Turn on high heat. When the soup boils, season the soup with salt until the flavor meets your preference, and turn off the heat.
- Garnish the soup with green onions and cilantro if available.
Vietnamese Papery Dried Shrimp and Tomato Soup
Ingredients
- 4 tomatoes
- 50g (1.7 oz) papery dried shrimps
- 1 tbsp chopped shallots
- 800ml (27 fl oz) water
- 1/2 cup chopped spring onion and cilantro
- 1 tbsp salt
Instructions
- Divide the tomatoes into 2 halves. Dice one half into small pieces for stir-frying and cut the other half into wedges to drop in the soup later.4 tomatoes
- Slice the shallots thinly. In a pot, sauté the shallots with 1 teaspoon of cooking oil on medium heat until fragrant, then add the diced tomato and stir-fry. When the tomato softens, add the papery dried shrimp into the pot and stir briefly.4 tomatoes, 1 tbsp chopped shallots, 50g (1.7 oz) papery dried shrimps
- Add water along with the tomato wedges to the pot. Turn on high heat. When the soup boils, season the soup with salt until the flavor meets your preference, and turn off the heat.800ml (27 fl oz) water
- Garnish the soup with green onions and cilantro if available.
Nutrition
Other Vietnamese Savory Soups for Daily Meals
Savory soups play an important part in Vietnamese cuisine; therefore, there are various types of Vietnamese soups enjoyed in daily meals. Here are some more which might be your favorites:
- Smelt Soup with Tomato and Pineapple
- Tofu and Tomato Egg Drop Soup
- Kohlrabi Soup with Shrimp
- Vietnamese Clam Soup
- Green Papaya Soup with Spareribs
- Vietnamese Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup (Canh khổ qua dồn thịt)
- Vietnamese Pumpkin Soup
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