Infinity Soup

Ramen, Pho, Niu Rou Mian, Laksa - I love all kinds of Asian noodle soups and would happily eat them every single day if I could. This particular one is my attempt to re-create a soup I always eat when I'm in Bangkok. Hearty broth, succulent beef and fresh greens - this soup is the bomb! Helps with stuffy noses, low spirits and other ailments.

Infinity Beef Noodle Soup

(serves 4)

• 1kg beef bones
• 350kg beef shank
• 2l water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 small piece of ginger (about 5cm long, cut into thin slices)
• 15 kardamom seeds
• 15 pepper corns
• 6 star anise
• 4 cloves
• dash of cinnamon
• 300 - 400g noodles (I used Beijing-style wheat noodles)
• 2 handfulls dark leafy green (I used young Chinese kale)
• 2 handfulls mushrooms (again, choose whatever you like)
• fresh lime juice and coriander for garnish

I'll spare you the sight of bones and raw meat...this is what goes into your soup once the stock is ready.

1. In a large pot, bring water, ginger and salt to a boil. Add bones and meat, cover with lid, then reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer for at least 3 hours, skimming off any foam every hour or so.
2. Add all your spices and soy sauce, let simmer for another 40 minutes.
3. Remove and toss bones, set aside beef shank, then pour the stock through a strainer* and into a smaller pot.
4. Cook noodles and veggies in seperate pots until done. In the meantime, cut up your beef shank - it should be buttery soft and falling apart!
5. Arrange noodles & veggies in a bowl, add slices of beef shank, then ladle hot broth on top of everything.
6. Garnish with fresh coriander, douse with limes juice and enjoy!
   

*Using a strainer rather than a sieve removes excess fat that can make your soup too oily. I don't have a strainer so if I have the time, I let the soup cool down enough for the fat to form a solid layer, then remove about half of it. It depends entirely on your preference how much oil you like, do note though that you don't want your soup to be fat-free - it's an important factor in bringing out all the flavours!