Opo Squash Shrimp Soup | Canh Bau Tom
Vietnamese Opo Squash Soup is a light, comforting dish made with thin slices of opo squash and minced shrimp that's simmered in a very easy and quick to make broth. It's a staple in a traditional everyday Vietnamese dinner.
Ingredients
Shrimp Marinade:
- ½ lb. shrimp, smashed then minced
- 1 Tbsp fish sauce
- ½ Tbsp mushroom powder
- ½ tsp sugar
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 Tbsp green onions, chopped
Broth:
- avocado oil, or any neutral oil
- 2 Tbsp shallots, chopped
- 1 Tbsp garlic, chopped
- 1 whole opo squash , peel and cut in half (or thirds depending on how big your opo squash is), then cut in half lengthwise, remove seeds, then cut into ¼ inch slices
- pinch kosher salt
- 2 quarts water
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce
- 1 Tbsp mushroom powder
- 1 Tbsp sugar
Garnish:
- cilantro, chopped
- green onions, chopped
- sprinkle black pepper
Instructions
- Add all the shrimp marinade ingredients together and mix well. Set aside so it has time to marinate while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
- Sauté shallots and garlic together in a pot with oil. Add opo squash, sprinkle with a little bit of salt, and fry for one minute. Add the 2 quarts of water to the pot. Then add fish sauce, salt, mushroom powder and sugar and bring to a boil. Once water is boiling, scoop minced shrimp, one tablespoon at a time, and drop them into the pot like dumplings. Make sure to get all the marinade into the pot. Reduce heat to a medium simmer and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro and chopped green onions and sprinkle with black pepper.
- Note: You will know the opo squash is fully cooked when the opo squash looks translucent.
Nutrition
Serving: 4portion | Calories: 69kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 1836mg | Potassium: 180mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 42IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Equipment
- 3.5 quart pot