Bún Riêu Recipe

Bún riêu (Vietnamese crab noodle soup) is a finger-licking Vietnamese noodle soup featuring tomato-based broth infused with crab or shrimp paste.

Cooking this delicacy may take some time. But be patient, and your effort will be rewarded with an amazing taste you can’t forget. The traditional version of the dish is challenging to recreate outside Vietnam, so I will show you an easier but no less exciting way of cooking it.

Quick Facts About Vietnamese Crab Noodle Soup

Vietnamese crab noodle soup, or bún riêu, is a simple and rustic dish whose roots are connected with the agricultural past of Vietnam. Its main ingredient is small freshwater crabs that are found in countless paddy fields in the country.

Locals mince them (both their flesh and shells) into a fine paste before cooking it into deeply savory broth and steamed crab cakes. While some other versions of bún riêu replace crabs with fish or snails, this recipe is the most popular one across Vietnam.

The main flavor of this noodle soup is tartness, which usually comes from tomatoes and tamarind paste. This characteristic gives it its name, as “riêu” means a sour soup or noodle soup made with crabs in fish in Vietnamese.

Vietnamese crab noodle soup started as a poor man’s food, though people from all walks of life enjoy it these days. Its pleasantly sour taste and many accompanying greens and herbs are quite refreshing to enjoy in the heat of the summer. Try this dish to see if you agree!

Cooking Tools for Bún Riêu

You’re going to need the following kitchen gadget to create the best Vietnamese crab noodle soup, including:

Bún Riêu’s Ingredients

Take a quick glance at the following list to see if you have the necessary ingredients for making this dish. While you can be flexible with the garnishes, make sure that you get the main ingredients right.

Instructions of Making Bún Riêu

Though bún riêu is not a simple treat to prepare, if you stick to this guide, you will have a perfect meal to treat others.

Step 1: Prepare The Ingredients For The Noodle Broth

Cut the tofu into bite-sized pieces and set aside.

Mince garlic and shallots. Remove the stem of each tomato, then cut the veggie through the middle part into wedges.

In a skillet, saute minced garlic in olive oil until fragrant. Add the tomato wedges and stir well.

Make cashew curry oil by frying curry seeds in cashew oil for 3 – 4 minutes. When the mixture cools down, remove the solids and keep the oil.

Step 2: Prepare The Minced Crab Broth

Mix the minced crab with warm water. Remove the solids with a strainer and keep the liquid.

Pour the minced crab liquid into a stock pot and bring it to a boil. With a strainer, skim off the crab meat that floats to the surface and set aside. Take the stock pot off the stovetop.

Make cashew curry oil by frying curry seeds in cashew oil for 3 – 4 minutes. When the mixture cools down, remove the solids and keep the oil.

Step 3: Make The Crab Cake

Mix below ingredients:

Whisk the eggs and set some aside, then blend the rest with the crab mixture and stir well. Steam the mixture for 30 minutes. Brush the surface with the remaining eggs.

Step 4: Prepare The Broth

Fill the stock pot with water and bring it to a boil. When the water bubbles, add the pork bones, pork leg, and some salt to the pot. Cook on medium heat for 45 minutes. Don’t put the lid on, and skim off the foam regularly.

Remove the pork bones and pork leg from the pot before pouring the crab broth, stir-fried tomatoes, tofu pieces, shrimp paste, cashew curry oil, scallion, and seasoning to taste.

Step 5: Prepare The Garnishes And Sauce

Make tamarind paste by diluting dried tamarind in warm water. Mix it with as much shrimp paste as your taste allows and some sugar (optional).

Cut cinnamon pork pate, pork leg, and crab cake into bite-sized pieces. Arrange them along with the sauce and the rest of the side dishes (fried shallots, vegetables, etc.) Put the rice noodles into your bowl, ladle enough broth into it, drizzle some sauce over the noodles, and enjoy!

Tips For Cooking Vietnamese Crab Noodle Soup At Home

Do you know what else you can do to cook and enjoy Vietnamese crab noodle soup more easily? Just pay attention to these little details:

Vietnamese Crab Noodle Soup: People’s Food, People’s Choice

Vietnamese crab noodle soup, once a working-class meal made from cheap ingredients, still retains its rustic charm despite modern, meatier versions. While its English name might suggest a seafood dish, its essence comes from the fertile paddy fields of Vietnam.

Though canned crab meat lacks authenticity, the dish’s deliciousness remains evident. Share your thoughts in the comments and spread the word. Thank you!