I have to admit I was not sure how to call this recipe as it’s not a traditional Vietnamese or Thai recipe, it is inspired though. This soup consists of a flavorful lemongrass and tomato broth served with fried tofu, rice noodles, and a sweet, salty, and spicy fermented tofu sauce stirred in just before serving. Then it’s topped with a ton of fresh herbs.

This soup has a very different flavor than phở, it is lighter on spices and has a lemony, fresh taste.

It starts with the lemongrass that is finely chopped and sautéed until fragrant. Next comes the tomatoes that add a natural sweetness to the broth.

To bring freshness we have lemon leaves, some dried shiitake for umami, and a few chili pepper slices for spiciness. Lemon leaves can be found in Asian stores, usually in the frozen section.

While the broth is cooking, you prepare the fermented tofu sauce. It is stirred into the broth at the very last time, giving it a deeper, more savory flavor. Do not omit it!

The sauce consists of fermented tofu, also called bean curd, once again available in Asian stores. It is sold in a very salty brine, in a jar. To balance the saltiness of the tofu, we mix it with maple syrup, lime juice, sesame oil, and some chili paste.

Finally, we have the add-ins: crispy fried tofu, mushrooms, rice noodles, and a ton of fresh herbs. You can tweak the add-ins to your liking, adding roasted vegetables, tempeh, bean sprouts, etc.

If you like broths that are easy to make and have a deep, complex flavor, you definitely have to try this recipe! It is healthy, comforting, and so delicious!

Let me know in the comments if you try this recipe!

Lemongrass Soup with Fermented Tofu Sauce

Umami packed soup flavored with lemongrass, lemon leaves, spices, and fermented tofu. Served with rice noodles, fried tofu, and a ton of fresh herbs! A comforting, healthy, and flavorful dish!

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★★★ 3 from 1 reviews

• Author: Full of Plants
• Yield: 3 1x

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Ingredients

• 2 tbsp (30ml) oil
• 1 lemongrass stalk, finely minced
• 2 large tomatoes, diced
• 4 cups (1 liter) water
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sliced cayenne pepper
• 2 dried shiitakes
• 3–4 lemon leaves
• 1 star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 tsp (6g) coconut sugar
• optional: 1 tsp tamarind paste soaked in 2 tbsp hot water

Fermented Tofu Sauce

• 4 cubes fermented tofu*, drained
• 1/4 tsp sambal badjak (or your favorite chili paste)
• 2 tbsp (30ml) maple syrup
• 1 tbsp (15ml) lime juice
• 1 tsp (5ml) sesame oil

Add-ins

• 4.5 ounces (130g) rice noodles
• 9 cubes fried tofu (or sautéed tofu)
• 1/2 cup (35g) mushrooms
• fresh cilantro, basil, and green onions

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Instructions

1. In a large saucepan or pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the lemongrass and sautée for about 3 minutes. Next, add the tomatoes and cook for 7-10 minutes, or until tender.
2. Add the water, salt, sliced pepper, dried shiitakes, lemon leaves, star anise, cinnamon stick, and coconut sugar. If using, soak the tamarind in hot water for 10 minutes and add it to the pot.
3. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer and cook for about 20 minutes.
4. In the meantime, prepare the fermented tofu sauce: in a small mixing bowl, mash the fermented tofu with a fork. Then add the sambal badjak, maple syrup, lime juice, and sesame oil. Mix until combined and set aside.
5. Prepare the add-ins. Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions. Sautée or fry the tofu. Slice the mushrooms and the fresh herbs.
6. To serve, divide the noodles, sliced mushrooms, and tofu into 3 serving bowls. Pour about 1 and 1/2 cup of the broth into the bowls. Next, stir in about 1,5 tbsp of the fermented tofu sauce into each bowl. Top with a ton of fresh herbs and serve immediately!
7. The broth will keep for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

Notes

* Fermented tofu can be found in Asian stores. It is sold in small jars, the tofu is stored in a very salty brine.

To fry tofu, pat it dry. Cut it into squares and lightly coat it with cornstarch. Heat about one cup of oil in a saucepan. Once hot, add the tofu and fry until it is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a kitchen paper towel to remove excess oil.

Adapted from Cooky.vn

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 (with tofu and noodles)
• Calories: 359
• Sugar: 14.3g
• Fat: 13.4g
• Carbohydrates: 54.1g
• Fiber: 2.8g
• Protein: 7.3g