Viennese Beef Soup Recipes

VIETNAMESE "PHO" RICE NOODLE SOUP WITH BEEF

Steps:

• In a large stockpot, bring 6 quarts water to a boil. Place the bones and beef chuck in a second pot and add water to cover. Bring to a boil and boil vigorously for 5 minutes. Using tongs, carefully transfer the bones and beef to the first pot of boiling water. Discard the water in which the meat cooked (this cleans the bones and meat and reduces the impurities that can cloud the broth). When the water returns to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer. Skim the surface often to remove any foam and fat. Add the charred ginger and onions, fish sauce and sugar. Simmer until the beef chuck is tender, about 40 minutes. Remove 1 piece and submerge in cool water for 10 minutes to prevent the meat from darkening and drying out. Drain, then cut into thin slices, and set aside. Let the other piece of beef chuck continue to cook in the simmering broth.
• When the broth has been simmering for about 1 1/2 hours total, wrap the star anise and cloves in a spice bag or piece of cheesecloth and add to the broth. Let infuse until the broth is fragrant about 30 minutes. Remove and discard both the spice bag and onions. Add the salt and continue to simmer, skimming as necessary, until ready to assemble the dish. The broth needs to cook for at least 2 hours. (The broth will taste salty but will be balanced once the noodles and accompaniments are added.) Leave the remaining chuck and bones to simmer in the pot while you assemble the bowls.
• To serve, place the cooked noodles in preheated bowls. (If the noodles are not hot, reheat them in a microwave or dip them briefly in boiling water to prevent them cooling down the soup.) Place a few slices of the beef chuck and the raw sirloin on the noodles. Bring the broth to a rolling boil; ladle about 2 to 3 cups into each bowl. The broth will cook the raw beef instantly. Garnish with yellow onions, scallions, and cilantro. Serve immediately, inviting guests to garnish the bowls with bean sprouts, herbs, chiles, lime juice, and black pepper.

HEARTY GOULASH SOUP

Steps:

• In an 8-quart heavy kettle cook bacon over moderate heat, stirring, until crisp and transfer with a slotted spoon to a large bowl. In fat remaining in kettle brown chuck in small batches over high heat, transferring it as browned with slotted spoon to bowl.
• Reduce heat to moderate and add oil. Add onions and garlic and cook, stirring, until golden. Stir in paprika, caraway seeds, and flour and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Whisk in vinegar and tomato paste and cook, whisking, 1 minute. (Mixture will be very thick.) Stir in broth, water, salt, bell peppers, bacon, and chuck and bring to a boil, stirring. Simmer soup, covered, stirring occasionally, 45 minutes.
• Peel potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Add potatoes to soup and simmer, covered, occasionally until tender, about 30 minutes. Season soup with salt and pepper. Soup may be made 3 days ahead and cooled, uncovered, before chilling, covered. Reheat soup, thinning with water if desired.

SIMPLE VIENNESE BEEF GOULASH

Steps:

• Cut beef into 1-inch cubes. Brown meat in oil in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Remove cooked beef to a bowl and set aside.
• Saute onions and garlic until limp. Add vinegar, stirring to deglaze the pan.
• Add remaining ingredients and cooked beef to pan; stir to blend. Heat to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover.
• Cook 3-4 hours, until beef is very tender, adding more beef stock if needed.
• Remove bay leaf and serve over spaetzle or egg noodles. (A baby gherkin sliced into a fan is the traditional garnish.).

TAFELSPITZ (BOILED BEEF AUSTRIAN STYLE)

Steps:

• Put beef and bones into a soup pot and add water to cover.
• Add salt, peppercorns and cleaned vegetables.
• Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer about 3 hours or until beef is tender, but not falling apart.
• Strain the bouillon and season to taste with salt, white pepper and nutmeg.
• Save and serve as first course.
• Slice beef and vegetables and serve with plain horseradish, apple-horseradish sauce or Chive Sauce.
• To make the Chive Sauce, Soak bread crumbs in cold water then squeeze dry.
• Combine bread crumbs and egg yolks in Cuisinart.
• Add olive oil a little at a time.
• Season with salt, pepper, sugar and vinegar.
• Add chives and mix well.