Cherry & Dennis Helper Habitat

West Lake Beef Soup

西湖牛肉羹

West Lake Beef Soup — finished dish

Total time: 35 min
Difficulty: Medium
Servings: 4 servings

Recipe overview

Finely minced beef, fresh mushrooms and egg white form a lightly thickened soup finished with coriander.

01

Ingredients

Main ingredients

250 g minced beef
100 g fresh shiitake mushrooms
2 pieces egg whites
15 g fresh coriander
10 g ginger

Beef mixture seasoning

1 tsp light soy sauce
1 tsp cornflour

Soup base

1.2 L unsalted chicken stock
0.25 tsp salt
0.25 tsp ground white pepper
1 tsp sesame oil

Light thickener

2 tbsp cornflour
60 ml water

West Lake Beef Soup — ingredients

02

Tools

kitchen knife
cutting board
mixing bowl
lidded soup pot
measuring spoons
measuring jug
ladle
fork
chopsticks
food thermometer
serving bowls

West Lake Beef Soup — tools

03

Steps

West Lake Beef Soup — Clean and destem the mushrooms, then finely dice

Step 1

Clean and destem the mushrooms, then finely dice

Clean and destem the mushrooms, then finely dice.

West Lake Beef Soup — Peel and mince ginger; wash and chop coriander separately

Step 2

Peel and mince ginger; wash and chop coriander separately

Peel and mince ginger; wash and chop coriander separately.

West Lake Beef Soup — Mix beef with soy sauce and one teaspoon cornflour, keeping it loose

Step 3

Mix beef with soy sauce and one teaspoon cornflour, keeping it loose

Mix beef with soy sauce and one teaspoon cornflour, keeping it loose.

West Lake Beef Soup — Loosen the egg whites with a fork without making foam

Step 4

Loosen the egg whites with a fork without making foam

Loosen the egg whites with a fork without making foam.

West Lake Beef Soup — Mix two tablespoons cornflour with 60 ml water for the slurry

Step 5

Mix two tablespoons cornflour with 60 ml water for the slurry

Mix two tablespoons cornflour with 60 ml water for the slurry.

West Lake Beef Soup — Bring stock and ginger to a boil, then add mushrooms

Step 6

Bring stock and ginger to a boil, then add mushrooms

Bring stock and ginger to a boil, then add mushrooms.

West Lake Beef Soup — Simmer for five minutes to cook the mushrooms

Step 7

Simmer for five minutes to cook the mushrooms

Simmer for five minutes to cook the mushrooms.

West Lake Beef Soup — Add beef in small portions and separate it immediately with chopsticks

Step 8

Add beef in small portions and separate it immediately with chopsticks

Add beef in small portions and separate it immediately with chopsticks.

West Lake Beef Soup — Simmer three to four minutes until the beef is fully cooked; skim foam

Step 9

Simmer three to four minutes until the beef is fully cooked; skim foam

Simmer three to four minutes until the beef is fully cooked; skim foam.

West Lake Beef Soup — Stir the slurry again, pour in while stirring and simmer until lightly thickened

Step 10

Stir the slurry again, pour in while stirring and simmer until lightly thickened

Stir the slurry again, pour in while stirring and simmer until lightly thickened.

West Lake Beef Soup — Drizzle in egg whites, stir gently into threads and cook until fully set

Step 11

Drizzle in egg whites, stir gently into threads and cook until fully set

Drizzle in egg whites, stir gently into threads and cook until fully set.

West Lake Beef Soup — Add salt, white pepper, sesame oil and coriander, stir and ladle into bowls

Step 12

Add salt, white pepper, sesame oil and coriander, stir and ladle into bowls

Add salt, white pepper, sesame oil and coriander, stir and ladle into bowls.

Common mistakes

Dry starch clumps in soup; do not turn off the heat immediately after adding egg white.

Tips

The soup should pour smoothly and coat the spoon lightly. Ask whether the family likes coriander; otherwise serve it separately.