Easy Chinese Shrimp Soup Recipes

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This shrimp soup recipes article teaches you how to select and clean shrimps; use shrimps whole, in chunks, minced into paste and shaped balls, and minced as stuffing or in wontons. Contains 4 soup recipes and 2 wonton recipes. 

Shrimps do not stand long cooking. It is very easy to tell when shrimps are cooked. They turn pink or red. Use it whole, roughly chopped, minced into paste, made into balls or many different shapes, or use as stuffing. Use it with or without shells. 

image source: Alex at Flickr

Shrimps can be from the ocean (saltwater) or river (freshwater). River shrimps tend to be smaller and prone to have a muddy, grassy flavour. In Singapore, we come across mostly saltwater shrimps. They also tend to be bigger in size with firmer flesh. 

When I was young, my family always buy fresh shrimps from the wet market. Granny taught me how to choose fresh shrimps: 

  1. Look for firmness in the flesh
  2. The shrimps should be curved, not limp and flat. The head is firmly attached to the body. It isn't drooping
  3. The shell is shiny with a nice gloss
  4. No funny smell

It is now quite common to see bags of frozen shrimps in the supermarkets. Shrimps spoil quickly so they are flash frozen right on the fishing boats to preserve its freshness. Frozen shrimps are very convenient to cook. But I find frozen cooked shrimps quite salty. To reduce the saltiness, soak and wash after thawing.

Preparation and Cleaning

One of the most important preparation step is to remove the gut (the dark vein running down the back / spine of the shrimp before cooking) of the fresh shrimps. 

My granny taught me to pull the gut out by poking one of the teeth of a fork into the third or fourth section of the shrimp underneath the gut line and lift it gently out. A deft hand can remove it in a single "lift". If a fork is too clunky for you, try a toothpick or satay stick. As long as it is something thin and sharp. See how it is done with a toothpick in the video below. 

Another way is to simply pull it out. Remove the head, grab the vein and pull slowly. I expect this to be easier with bigger sized shrimps. 

The last and most common method is to slit the back and rinse it off. Many people use a knife to cut the slit but using a pair of kitchen scissor is safer. The video below shows you how:

Whichever way you remove the gut, it must be done. 

If you intend to cook with the shells on, the shrimps also need to be trimmed. Use a pair of kitchen scissors, snip off the top part of the head especially the sharp bits. Snip off the "whiskers" and the legs. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry. The video above shows how it is done too. 

How to defrost shrimps?

I used to take frozen shrimps out of the freezer and throw them directly into my soup. This is not good. It is better to thaw and wash them properly before cooking them.  I repent. 

The proper way to thaw them is to let them warm up in room temperature. I find it easier to move them from the freezer to the chiller first. When you are ready to cook, bring it out to room temperature to complete the thaw. You can soak them in room temperature water to quicken the process.

What is the difference between a shrimp and prawn?

In Singapore, we use the term prawns more often, like Hokkien prawn noodles. I heard that the term shrimp is more common in North America.

Genetically they are different, but to the layperson, the difference is very small. So, I think it is quite safe to use them interchangeably. 

How to freeze shrimps?

Shrimps can be easily frozen. To freeze with the shell on, wash them thoroughly and pack them into an air-tight container. Place them in the freezer for about 4 hours. Take the container out and add water before returning to the freezer.

To freeze shelled prawns, clean them first. Marinate with a little rice wine, pat dry, pack into a container, and place in the freezer. 

Shrimp heads and shells can also be frozen for making shrimp stock. No one buys a lot of shrimps just to make stock. Most people accumulate the heads and shells by freezing them and accumulating until there are enough to make stock. 

Shrimp Soup Recipes

Recipe 1. Shrimp soup with Chinese yam

Depending on the size of the shrimps, use it whole or chop into chunks. 

Ingredients

  • 200g fresh Chinese yam 淮山 (shan yao)
  • 4 fresh shrimps
  • 4 konbu pieces
  • 1 small bunch of snow pea shoots
  • Pinch of saltcornstarch
  • 500ml water
  • 1 tbsp dashi powder 

Directions

  1. Peel the Chinese yam and cut into cubes. Be careful when peeling as it can be slippery. 
  2. Wash the shrimps, remove the shells except the tails. Score the back and remove the gut
  3. Rub the shrimps gently with salt and dust with cornstarch
  4. Remove the blackish part from the shrimp heads
  5. Place the shrimp heads, shells, konbu and Chinese yam and water into a soup pot
  6. Bring the water to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes
  7. Remove the shells and heads
  8. Add the dashi powder for flavor 
  9. Add in the peashoots and cook for about 1 minute
  10. Add to the soup and cook quickly
  11. Remove from heat once the shrimps changes colour
  12. Serve

Recipe 2. Easy shrimp soup with napa cabbage and egg

This is a hearty rustic soup. The napa cabbage is really sweet when it is well cooked and goes well with the ocean sweetness of the shrimps. If you are unfamiliar with using cornstarch to thicken soup, read this article on thickening soup first. 

Ingredients

  • 150g fresh shrimps
  • 2 eggs
  • 50g napa cabbage leaves
  • 1 stalk of cilantro
  • 6 cups of soup stock
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tablespoon cornstarch mixture
  • 1 tablespoon black vinegar

Directions

  1. Wash, remove the shells and clean the shrimps
  2. Cut the shrimps into chunks if they are big
  3. Wash the cabbage leaves and shred. Use the food processor with a shredding blade or a mandolin
  4. Beat the eggs lightly
  5. Wash the cilantro leaves and chop finely
  6. Bring the soup stock to a boil in a pot
  7. Add the shredded cabbage and cooked until they are soft
  8. Add the shrimps
  9. Add the cornstarch solution to thicken the soup
  10. Stir in the egg mixture and give the soup a few quick stirs
  11. Add the black vinegar and chopped cilantro before serving

Recipe 3. Shrimp soup with cellophane noodle

This is a hearty and appetite-stimulating soup dish. It relieves work stress and fatigue, and strengthens the body. 

Ingredients

  • 12 fresh shrimps
  • 2 bunches cellophane noodle / glass noodle
  • 1/3 stalk leek
  • 2 1-inch pieces ginger
  • 1 red chilli
  • 1 stalk spring onion
  • 3 sections garlic
  • 1 litre soup stock

Seasonings

  • 2 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tbsp cooking wine
  • Salt and pepper

Directions

  1. Clean and remove the shells of the shrimps
  2. Make slits on the back and remove the gut
  3. Julienne the leek and soak in water
  4. Roughly chop the spring onion and red chilli
  5. Peel the garlic and chop roughly
  6. Peel the ginger and slice thinly
  7. Soak the cellophane noodle in room temperature water till they are soft
  8. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pot (preferably a claypot)
  9. Fry the spring onion, ginger, garlic and red chilli
  10. Add the soup stock and seasonings and bring to a boil
  11. Add the cellophane noodle and the shrimps
  12. Cook till both are done
  13. Garnish with the leek and serve

Recipe 4. Shrimp ball soup with straw mushrooms

Yummy Shrimp Ball SoupYummy Shrimp Ball Soup

This shrimp ball soup with straw mushrooms is interesting to make as it is interesting to eat. I get to mince up fresh shrimps and make shrimp balls. The balls should look like apples with the celery sticks sticking out.

You can add more than one type of mushrooms. 

I was taught since young that when boiling dumplings, fish balls or meat balls, that they are cooked when they float to the surface of the water. 

Ingredients

  • 600g fresh shrimps
  • 40g straw mushrooms
  • 1 celery
  • 250ml soup stock
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Seasoning for shrimp balls

  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • Dash of sesame seed oil
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 tablespoon of cornstarch

Directions

  1. Remove the shells and guts of the shrimp
  2. Mince the shrimps by processing them in a food processor. If you do not have a food processor, you can use a knife but it would be a lot more work
  3. Add the seasoning for the shrimp balls to the minced shrimps. Mix them up till the mixture is slightly sticky
  4. Wash the straw mushrooms and cut in half
  5. Wash the celery and cut into thin short strips
  6. Shape the shrimp mixture into round balls with hands and place on a plate
  7. Insert one strip of celery in the centre of each shrimp ball. Make sure that one end of the celery strip is sticking out of the shrimp ball
  8. Bring soup stock to a boil, lower the heat and add the shrimp balls into the soup. Cook for about 8 minutes or until the shrimp balls float to the surface
  9. Add the straw mushrooms
  10. Bring the entire pot to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer till the vegetables are cooked
  11. Add salt and pepper to taste
  12. Serve

Shrimp Wonton Recipes

Fresh shrimps is also a popular ingredient in Cantonese wontons. Most Northern Chinese wontons do not contain shrimps. 

Not all shrimps wontons are the same. Some are all shrimps, some are mixture of shrimp and pork, And some have fish too.

The 3 filling recipes below ask for a packet of wonton wrappers. You may or may not finish the entire packet, depending on the amount of filling you use for each wrapper. Check out these ideas for using up leftover wrappers. 

Choose your preferred wonton folding style and the soup to eat it with.

Recipe 1. Pork and shrimp filling

Ingredients

  • 150g ground pork
  • 150g fresh shrimps
  • 1/2 egg white
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
  • Dash of pepper
  • 1 stalk of spring onion, chopped

Directions

  1. Shell and devein the prawns. Wash and cut in half if they are too big
  2. Mix the ground pork and seasonings for filling together. Add dash of cold water if the mixture is too dry
  3. Fold in the fresh prawns
  4. Wrap the wontons
  5. Boil water and cook the wontons
  6. Drain and leave aside
  7. Prepare the wonton soup
  8. Pour the soup into serving bowls, add the wontons
  9. Garnish and serve

Recipe 2. Pork, fish and shrimp filling

Ingredients

  • 150g minced pork
  • 80g minced fish
  • 80g fresh shrimps
  • 1 tsp cooking wine
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp sesame seed oil
  • 1/2 egg white
  • 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
  • Dash of pepper
  • 1 stalk of coriander leaves or chinese parsley or cilantro
  • Salt & pepper
  • Dash of sesame seed oil

Directions

  1. Shell, devein and wash the prawns. Cut into small pieces
  2. Mix the ground pork, minced fish and prawns with the seasonings for filling. Leave to stand and marinate for an hour
  3. Wrap the wontons
  4. Boil water and cook the wontons. Drain and leave aside
  5. Prepare the wonton soup
  6. Pour the soup into serving bowls, add the wontons
  7. Garnish and serve

Recipe 3. Turkey and shrimp filling

This is a great recipe for leftover Thanksgiving turkey. 

Ingredients

  • 240g turkey meat
  • 125g fresh shrimp, shelled, de-veined and chopped
  • 50g water chestnuts
  • 3/4 cup of cold water
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp cooking wine
  • 1 tsp minced ginger
  • Salt & pepper

Directions

  1. Ground and mix the turkey and water chestnuts in the food processor. Mix in the seasonings for filling
  2. Fold in the shrimps
  3. Wrap the wontons
  4. Boil water and cook the wontons
  5. Drain and leave aside
  6. Prepare the wonton soup
  7. Pour the soup into serving bowls, add the wontons

Happy Souping, Phoebe