Canh Sườn Heo Recipe

Richie

By Richie

Lastest Updated June 21, 2024
Home » Recipes A-Z » Canh Sườn Heo Recipe
Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

Canh sườn heo, known as Vietnamese pork rib soup in English, is a popular dish to enjoy with steamed rice in daily Vietnamese meals. When the succulent spare ribs meet sweet and starchy vegetables at the tip of your tongue, the burst of flavors is mind-blowing.

This article is aimed at helping you enjoy that sensation at home. It will go through the unique features of canh sườn heo, the necessary kitchen tools and ingredients to make it, details on its preparation, as well as cooking, storage, and reheating tips.

Let’s check them out!

Canh Suon Heo1

What Makes Canh Sườn Heo a Classic Dish?

Canh sườn heo is a Vietnamese dish in the category of canh (broth-based soups popular in the country’s cuisine). A traditional Vietnamese family meal often serves one or two canh dishes with rice and several savory dishes. The broth makes it easier to chew and digest the rice.

Canh Suon Heo3
Canh Suon Heo2
Canh Suon Heo1
Canh Suon Heo

There are many kinds of canh, with canh sườn heo being one of the most prevalent dishes. Its nutrition profile is very well-rounded, consisting of starch, protein, fat, and fiber. The versatility of the ingredients is another charm: you can use many types of vegetables to whip up the dish.

What Tools Are Needed to Make Canh Sườn Heo?

You only need the most basic tools for cooking canh sườn heo from scratch. Check the following list to see how simple they are:

  • Stockpot: For cooking canh sườn heo. While any kind of large cooking pot with a lid will do, a stockpot provides enough space to prepare this dish.
  • Soup ladle: For stirring the ingredients in the stockpot.
  • Slotted ladle: For scooping and serving canh sườn heo.
  • Knife: You need a sharp knife to cut the vegetables smoothly.
  • Cutting board: For chopping the vegetables.
Canh Suon Heo Tools

What Ingredients Does Canh Sườn Heo Call for?

The ingredients may be found right in the dish’s name: spare ribs and vegetables. I will show you how to find spare ribs and what kinds of vegetables you can use, plus the necessary herbs and condiments for canh sườn heo right below:

  • Pork spare ribs: Spare ribs have meat between the bones rather than on top, like baby back ribs. These ribs are often unavailable in many grocery stores, which usually sell full slabs. You can cut these into spare ribs yourself or ask a butcher to do it, which I usually do.
  • Vegetables: My recipe includes potatoes, lotus roots, carrots, white radishes, broccoli, and straw mushrooms. You can add other vegetables, such as beetroots, cauliflower, baby corn, gourds, zucchinis, button mushrooms, and portobello mushrooms.
  • Shallots: Adding flavor to the soup.
  • Scallions: You need to divide the scallions into two parts for two different purposes: whole scallions for imparting more flavor to the broth and chopped scallions for garnish.
  • Cilantro: For garnishing and adding more flavors to the broth.
  • Brown sugar, soup powder, and salt: To season the broth.

What Are The Instructions for Cooking Canh Sườn Heo at Home?

Here are 4 main steps to prepare canh sườn heo right in your kitchen:

Step 1: Prepare the Vegetables

Wash the vegetables and let them drain.

Cut the potato, broccoli head, carrot, and white radish into bite-sized pieces.

Slice the lotus root thinly and cut all the straw mushrooms in half.

Take half the scallions and chop them finely. Chop the cilantro finely.

Canh Suon Heo Step 1 Prepare the Vegetables

Step 2: Parboil the Pork Ribs

Fill the stockpot with water and bring it to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon of salt, then parboil the spare ribs for 2 minutes. Immerse them in cold water. This step helps deodorize the spare ribs and create a clear broth.

Canh Suon Heo Step 2 Parboil the Pork Ribs

Step 3: Cook the Pork Ribs

Return the pork ribs to the stock pot along with whole scallions, shallots, and 3.5 liters of water. Set the heat to medium and cook for 20 minutes with the lid off.

Constantly skim off the white scum from the top.

Canh Suon Heo Step 3 Cook the Pork Ribs

Step 4: Add the Vegetables

Remove the scallions and shallots. Add the lotus root slices and cook for 15 minutes on low-medium heat.

Canh Suon Heo Step 4 Add the Vegetables

Add the white radish, carrot, and potato pieces. Cook for another 15 minutes.

Canh Suon Heo Step 4 Add the Vegetables1

Add the straw mushrooms, broccoli, and season with:

  • 1 teaspoon of brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons of soup powder
  • 2 teaspoons of salt
Canh Suon Heo Step 4 Add the Vegetables2

Cook for 5 or 10 more minutes.

Canh Suon Heo Step 4 Add the Vegetables3

Garnish with chopped scallions and cilantro.

Canh Suon Heo Step 4 Add the Vegetables4

Enjoy canh sườn heo with steamed rice to savor the hearty broth and tender ribs paired perfectly with the simple, fluffy rice.

Canh Suon Heo Step 4 Add the Vegetables5

What Are the Secrets to Tasty Vietnamese Pork Rib Soup?

While it is easy to prepare homemade canh sườn heo, there are 5 main tips to make the process even smoother:

  • About parboiling: It is recommended but entirely optional to parboil pork spare ribs before making canh sườn heo.
  • How to get a clear soup: Always cook the soup with the lid off and constantly remove the white foam at the stop. They are impurities in the pork ribs and will make the broth opaque unless taken out of it.
  • Drop vegetables in the right order: lotus roots go in first, followed by root vegetables. Quick-cooking ingredients should be added last. In case you add other vegetables not included in this recipe, it is a great idea to check their cooking time beforehand.
  • Use an Instant Pot: You can save time by preparing pork rib soup with an Instant Pot. This device may cut the cooking time by half or even two-thirds. However, the tradeoff is that the broth won’t be as clear as the traditional version.
  • More protein choices: Some versions also use pig trotters or pork knuckles for added fat.

What Sides to Enjoy with Vietnamese Pork Rib Soup?

Canh sườn heo always goes with steamed rice and, in some cases, rice noodles. Due to the traditional role of canh dishes in Vietnamese meals, they aren’t very versatile in terms of side dishes.

You can dip the vegetables and spare ribs in fish sauce. A mixture of soy sauce, garlic, and chili peppers is another suitable condiment.

Canh Suon Heo3

How to Store and Reheat Vietnamese Pork Rib Soup?

You can store canh sườn heo by placing the leftover in an air-tight container and refrigerating it for 2 or 3 days. Since this dish is a broth-based soup with no creamy ingredients, it is excellent for long-term storage in the freezer as well.

Canh sườn heo can be frozen for 2 or 3 months and doesn’t change significantly in texture and flavor when thawed. You can reheat it over medium heat on the stovetop or use a microwave. An Instant Pot is another useful device.

Prepare Canh Sườn Heo This Weekend!

A highly nutritious dish, canh sườn heo is great for lunch and dinner. Given how suitable the soup is for refrigeration and freezing, you can make it ahead. With an Instant Pot, you can reduce the cooking time by a significant margin. Canh sườn heo is the ultimate dish for daily meals!

Therefore, it will be especially beneficial if you master how to cook it, and I’m happy to help you with that. In case you have any questions about this recipe, let me know in the comment section.

Don’t forget to share this post with your friends to spread the popularity of Vietnamese soups.

Canh Suon Heo

Canh Sườn Heo Recipe (Vietnamese Pork Rib Soup)

Canh sườn heo (Vietnamese pork rib soup) is a favorite dish of many Vietnamese households, and it will be yours, too. This recipe is a brilliant way to add more fiber-rich vegetables to your diet.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate Save Recipe
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Keyword: Canh Sườn Heo, Vietnamese Pork Rib Soup
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Dietary Preference: Dairy-Free, Gluten-free
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 484kcal

Equipment

  • Pot
  • Ladle
  • Slotted Ladle
  • Knife
  • Chopping Board

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

The Pork Spare Ribs

  • 1.1 pounds pork spare ribs
  • 3 shallots
  • 4 scallions
  • 1 teaspoon salt

The Vegetables:

  • 1 medium potato
  • 1 lotus root
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 white radish
  • ½ broccoli head
  • 3.5 ounces straw mushrooms
  • Scallions and cilantro

The Condiments

  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons soup powder
  • 2 teaspoon salt

Instructions 

  • Cut the potato, broccoli head, carrot, and white radish into bite-sized pieces. Slice the lotus root thinly and cut all the straw mushrooms in half. Take half the scallions and chop them finely.
    Canh Suon Heo Step 1 Prepare the Vegetables
  • In the stockpot, parboil the spare ribs in hot water with salt for 2 minutes. Immerse the spare ribs in cold water.
    Canh Suon Heo Step 2 Parboil the Pork Ribs
  • Cook the spare ribs with whole scallions, shallots, and 3.5 liters of water. Set the heat to medium and cook for 20 minutes with the lid off. Constantly skim off the white scum from the top.
    Canh Suon Heo Step 3 Cook the Pork Ribs
  • Remove the scallions and shallots. Add the lotus root slices and cook for 15 minutes on low-medium heat.
    Canh Suon Heo Step 4 Add the Vegetables
  • Add the white radish, carrot, and potato pieces. Cook for another 15 minutes.
    Canh Suon Heo Step 4 Add the Vegetables1
  • Add the straw mushrooms, broccoli pieces, and seasoning. Cook for 5 – 10 more minutes.
    Canh Suon Heo Step 4 Add the Vegetables2
  • Garnish with chopped scallions and cilantro.
    Canh Suon Heo Step 4 Add the Vegetables5

Video

Notes

  • The instructions and preparation time are for 4 servings.
  • Parboiling the pork spare ribs is a useful yet non-compulsory step.
  • Cook canh sườn heo with the lid off and constantly remove the white foam at the stop to get a clear broth.
  • Add vegetables to the stockpot in the right order: lotus roots, root vegetables, and quick-cooking ingredients.
  • You can cook canh sườn heo with an Instant Pot.

Nutrition

Calories: 484kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 2013mg | Potassium: 1283mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 3143IU | Vitamin C: 114mg | Calcium: 122mg | Iron: 4mg
Richie

Richie

Content Writer

Expertise

Home Cooking, Meal Planning, Food Styling, Food Photography, Cooking-video Maker, Beverage Evaluation Expert

Education

Saigon Culinary Arts Centre, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

  • Program: Diploma in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Vietnamese and Asian cuisines with intensive training and hands-on approach.

Vietnam Australia Vocational School (VAAC), Hanoi, Vietnam

  • Program: Bartender
  • Focus: Basic knowledge on how to store, preserve and select ingredients, and practice cocktails, mocktails, hot and cold drinks.
Facebook
Instagram

Richie, based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a dynamic Content Writer with a talent for capturing the essence of culinary art.

Richie specializes in creating visually appealing and tasty content, offering a new angle on Vietnamese and other culinary traditions. With a background in graphic design and a love for food styling and photography, he expertly combines beauty with food narratives, encouraging his audience to discover the culinary world through his imaginative perspective.

5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating