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Chinese soup making technique:
Simmering soup
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To simmer means to cook something at boiling point (about 100 degree celsius or 212 degree fahrenheit). To start a simmer, bring water to a boil, then adjusts the heat down until the bubbling just stops. Simmering is a gentler way to cook soup than boiling because vigorous bubbling toughens meat and damage vegetables. The usual time needed to simmer chinese soups averages 1 to 2 hours. It has been found that soups that has been simmered for 1 to 2 hours contain the highest level of nutrients. Chinese soups can be simmered over the stovetop using any soup pot. However, a heavy-base soup pot can help reduce the chance of ingredients settling to the bottom and burning, which means it does not need to be stirred constantly. If you are using some chinese herbs in the soup, it is also important not to use stainless steel, aluminium or copper pots. The herbs may react with the pots. As such, it may be easier if you use a slow cooker. My grandma makes a lot of chinese soups using the slow cooker. Simmering chinese soups can also be known as slow cooked chinese soups or long soups. A slow cooker can automatically adjusts the heat to just below boiling point and free your time and hands because you don't have to constantly check on the soup. The inner pot is made of glazed clay and will not react to any ingredient. More information about the slow cooker at the slow cooker page.
An important preparation step for simmering soup is parboiling. To parboil means to partially cook an ingredient. Root vegetables and meat ingredients like pork, beef, and poultry should be parboiled before putting them in the soup. Parboiling meat gets rid of blood and some of the fat. You may have noticed that if you add raw meat or bones to a soup without parboiling it, the soup becomes murky and there are froth and bits floating on the surface. If you don't mind it is okay, but most people would strain or scoop them up. Save yourself the trouble and time by parboiling your meat first. To parboil, place ingredients in a pot together with cold water. Use high heat and boil for about 10 minutes. |
