Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Magic in the Kitchen : Clear Beef Soup with Baby Potatoes and Winter Melon

I am not hungry though my craving is all over the place.  Been putting off making this clear soup since...  I can't remember but just now I was hit with a pang of craving for something beefy,  soupy and winter-melon-ey... 

So let's bring out the slow cooker and let 'em  simmer!

Ingredients :

3/4 kgs of the cheapest,  toughest beef money can buy

1 small winter melon

1 handful of baby potatoes

1 small onion

1 inch cinnamon

1/2 star anise

1/2 teaspoon black peppercorn

Method:

Brown beef in a pan.  Add cinnamon, star anise and black peppercorn. 

Add onion,  winter melon and potatoes till fragrant.  Add to slow cooker. 

Cover with hot water and cook on high till boiling and switch to low/auto. 

Simmer for 4 hours.



*kitchen tips -  when using a slow cooker,  buy the cheapest,  sinewiest meat cut,  but avoid fat!

Liquid in slow cooker does not evaporate significantly,  keep that in mind when adding fluid.

When using a slow cooker,  anything higher than 3/4 full is considered overfilled!

Do not add salt until everything is almost well cooked as the flavour of the ingredients will leach out.  Taste when done and only then add salt to taste.

The medium sized slow cooker works the best for me!

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