Published Dec 06, 2022 Updated Aug 18, 2024
West Lake Beef Soup Recipe
West lake beef soup, or xi hu niu rou geng is a traditional soup from Hangzhou, China. It’s a thick, egg drop soup made with marinated ground beef and chicken broth, with chopped coriander leaves to complete the dish. Adding coriander leaves towards the end of the cooking process will help jazz up the flavor with a refreshing and citrusy aroma. Looking for a hearty soup recipe to enjoy with family and friends? Check out my Chinese hot pot recipe.
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe takes less than 20 minutes from prep to finish and you’ll have an utterly delicious soup that rivals the local Chinese restaurants. The soup requires only a few simple ingredients that everyone will have in their kitchen pantry. It’s affordable and the total cost is a fraction of the restaurant’s price. It’s also a warm and cozy soup that is great on cold days but so delicious you’ll make it year round. Looking for more soup recipes? Check out my hot and sour soup recipe!
Recipe Ingredients
My recipe is quick and easy to prepare:
Ground beef Chicken broth Water Eggs Coriander leaves (cilantro)
You may use either ground beef or finely minced beef for this recipe. To make a light and savory west lake beef soup, use either homemade chicken stock or store-bought low sodium chicken broth for the best taste. See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
How To Make West Lake Beef Soup
This homemade west lake beef soup is quick to prepare and tastes authentic. First, marinate the ground beef for 10 minutes with Chinese rice wine or sherry and sesame oil. Mix the cornstarch and water in a small bowl until smooth. Secondly, bring chicken broth and 1 1/3 cups of water to a boil in a soup pot. Lower the heat to medium and add ground beef to the soup. Skim off the foam on the surface as the beef cooks. Next, season the soup with salt and white pepper, then add the cornstarch mixture to thicken the soup. Turn off the heat. Swirl the beaten eggs into the soup and immediately stir a few times, then cover the pot with a lid and let the remaining heat cook the eggs. Finally, add coriander leaves and stir to blend well. Dish out and serve immediately.
Cooking Tips
Thicken the soup with a mixture of cornstarch and water to create a silky and smooth texture. However, do not add too much cornstarch. Break the marinated ground beef into small pieces and cook it in the boiling chicken broth. Skim off the foam on the surface to remove the odd taste from the beef. Turn off the heat and cook the beaten egg with the remaining heat in the pot with the lid covered. Stir the beaten egg with chopsticks to form the silken threads. Add more chopped coriander leaves on top of the soup before serving which helps to add more fragrance.
What To Serve With West Lake Beef Soup
For an easy and wholesome Chinese meal, I recommend the following recipes: I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
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