Savory Tomato Tofu Beef Soup
A vibrant, comforting soup featuring a tangy tomato broth packed with silky tofu and tender beef slices. Perfect for a quick, wholesome family meal.
This classic home-style soup combines the natural acidity of fresh tomatoes with silky tender tofu and savory beef slices. It is a beloved family staple, praised not only for its comforting, deeply savory taste but also for its nutritional profile that generations have relied on to support growing children.
Ingredients
- 300 g beef flank or tenderloin, thinly sliced
- 300 g tender tofu, cubed
- 3 whole tomatoes, diced and chunked
- 2 stalks scallions, chopped
- 15 g ginger, julienned
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1.5 tbsp cooking oil
- 750 ml water
- to taste salt
- 1 tsp chicken essence powder
- 0.5 tsp white pepper powder
- to taste fresh cilantro
Instructions
- 1Marinate the beef slices
Place the thinly sliced beef into a mixing bowl. Add chopped scallions, julienned ginger, and the required liquid seasonings or oil. Mix thoroughly until the beef fully absorbs the flavors and becomes slightly sticky, which helps keep the meat tender during cooking.
Tip: Mixing the beef until it feels sticky ensures that the marinade is well-absorbed, resulting in much more tender meat. - 2Stir-fry the marinated beef
Heat a pan over medium-high heat and add the marinated thin slices of beef. Use chopsticks to stir-fry them quickly and evenly. Cook just until the surface changes color from pink to a light brown, then immediately remove from the heat to keep the beef tender.
Tip: Do not overcook the beef at this stage; it will finish cooking thoroughly when simmered in the soup later. - 3Stir-fry the diced tomatoes
Heat a pan with a little oil and stir-fry the chopped green onions until fragrant. Add the diced tomatoes to the pan and stir-fry them over medium heat until they soften and release their rich, savory juices, forming the flavorful base of the soup.
Tip: Stir-frying the tomatoes thoroughly until they break down helps release their natural sweetness and acidity, creating a deeper flavor for the broth. - 4Add the tender tofu
Carefully slide the white cubes of tender tofu from the bowl into the pan containing the boiling tomato soup base. Stir the soup gently from the bottom to distribute the tofu evenly without breaking the delicate cubes.
Tip: Handle the tofu very gently to prevent it from crumbling into the soup, ensuring the cubes stay clean and intact. - 5Add the stir-fried beef
Gently pour the previously stir-fried beef slices into the simmering tomato and tofu soup base. Stir lightly to distribute the ingredients evenly, allowing the beef to meld with the savory and tangy broth.
Tip: Be gentle when stirring so you do not break up the delicate cubes of tender tofu. - 6Season and simmer the soup
Season the boiling soup with salt, chicken essence, and pepper powder. Let the soup simmer gently for a few minutes so the rich flavors of the beef, tomatoes, and tender tofu fully infuse into the broth.
Tip: Simmering on low-medium heat keeps the beef tender while allowing the soup base to deepen in flavor.
