In this wet season, a bowl of warm noodle soup can be the best food to have. Luckily, Southeast Asian countries offer a variety of noodle soups that will satisfy your tastebuds and warm you up during this cold weather.
From hearty broths to aromatic spices, each bowl tells a unique story of the region's culinary traditions. Here are 6 Southeast Asian noodle soups that you can definitely try.
Soto Mie (Indonesia)
Soto Mie or noodle soup originated from Bogor, Indonesia, a city famous for its rainy weather. A typical bowl of soto mie is served with yellow noodle, topped with tender chicken or beef alongside with other condiments such as rice vermicelli, tomato, and cabbage. What makes this food unique is its crispy spring roll, which is filled with rice vermicelli. It definitely has a perfect mix of texture and taste: warm, savory, and crispy.
Batchoy (Philippines)
Originated from Iloilo City, the Philippines, Batchoy consists of noodles, pig intestines, pork, vegetables, and spices. The broth is made from garlic and ginger, making Batchoy a very hearty dish that can keep you warm from this chilly weather.
Pho (Viet Nam)
As one of the most popular cuisines from Vietnam, a bowl of pho can be a perfect meal for you. It consists of rice noodles, beef, beansprouts, cilantro leaves, with rich beef broth that has a strong fish sauce taste. This meal has a very strong aroma of spices. The broth has an interesting taste between savory with a hint of sweetness, paired with tender beef and crunchy bean sprouts, making it a filling lunch or dinner for you.
Curry Laksa (Malaysia)
Curry laksa is a popular cuisine in Malaysia. It is a vermicelli noodle soup, served with chicken, beansprouts, and also rice. The broth itself is made with coconut milk, spices, and herbs. That is why curry laksa has a very thick and savory soup, with proteins that complement the noodles. It is a very filling food that is suitable for these rainy days.
Kuai Tiao Ruea (Thailand)
Kuai Tiao Ruea or boat noodle soup originated from Ayutthaya, Thailand. It received the name because it was actually sold in boats. This soup consists of beef, meatball, pork, served with broth made from soy sauce, herbs, spices, and even cow’s blood as a natural thickener.
Mohinga (Myanmar)
Mohinga is regarded as the national dish of Myanmar. Using fish broth as its soup, Mohinga has a different taste with the rest of the soups that are mentioned before. But like the others, this soup also uses rice vermicelli. It is topped with tender catfish filets and crispy fritters that is made with turmeric and peas, which gives a crunchy texture to the soup. This food can be an interesting choice, too!
From a strong and rich beef broth pho, to a warm and thicky curry laksa, every bowl of these noodle soups can be a journey for your tastebuds. Whatever preference you have, you should try one of this recommended soups around Southeast Asia. Which one do you want try?
