A Deliciously Tasty Tang Yuan Soup Recipe
If you are looking for a dish that is authentically Chinese and has a sweet flavor that is unlike most soup options you are used to, then you should consider making this Tang Yuan Soup Recipe for your next dinner party. It offers a sweet treat that is almost like a dessert soup and is a festive option that dates back for thousands of years.
Tang Yuan Soup Recipe History
A deeply routed recipe and Chinese tradition, it is believed that Tang Yuan soup debuted into Chinese culture over 2000 years ago during the Han dynasty. The traditional story references a young maiden living in the palace known as Yuanxiao. Her sadness from being away from her family turned her into a dark depression where she contemplated the worst of practices.
One of the palace ministers encouraged her to make these rice flour dumplings to honor the god on the first new moon after the new year. After completing the task, she was allowed to see her parents, and a new festival was born with Tang Youn Soup as the star.
Over the years, Chinese culture has associated Tang Yuan Soup with the Lantern Festival, making it a staple at each celebration in the home country and for celebrations happening across the globe. This soup has undergone several names through the centuries, but has landed more recently on Tang Yuan as of the early 1900s. It has been used as a symbol to represent families and being together during this time.
Benefits of Eating Tang Yuan Soup
While it may not seem as though a sweet soup like the Tang Yuan Soup recipe could have health benefits, there are some to keep in mind as you prepare this dish and serve it to friends and family.
Energy Improvement
The lion dates syrup found in this recipe offers natural energy that will supply your body for longer periods. This is why festival celebrations are able to last so long, and everyone gets to enjoy the festivities without being too tired or worn out. This is also another reason why it is a common snack, especially in the afternoons when you need something a little extra to hold your over.
Digestive Health
One of the best things about consuming Tang Yuan Soup is the digestive benefits that it offers when it is consumed regularly. You can expect to have regular bowel movements and avoid unwanted constipation that comes with overeating other cuisine types. There are high amounts of fiber in this recipe to keep your family regular.
Anti-Inflammatory
Because of the ginger that is found throughout the soup, you can enjoy anti-inflammatory properties if you are experiencing pain in different parts of your body. The health benefits of ginger will start to improve the immune system right away and begin this process of breaking down the inflammation in joints and tissue.
Ingredients Needed for Tang Yuan Soup Recipe
Below are the ingredients you will need to enjoy a tasty and classic Tang Yuan Soup recipe. You can add as much or little to fit your taste preference, and even double to make for larger groups. This is a standard recipe for four servings.
- 1 cup Glutinous Rice Flour
- 2 Eggs
- 1/4 cup Goji Berries
- 1/3 cup Honey
- 2 tablespoons of Ginger
- 2 tablespoons of Sugar
- 1/4 cup Osmanthus Flowers
- 1/4 cup Umeshu
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup hot boiling water
- 1/4 cup of room temperature water
These are the active ingredients in the soup; you should have them on hand when you are ready to begin making the soup. While you can sub out the Umeshu for cooking wines, you should not be subbing out the rice flour, as its texture is essential to the soup. Ingredients like eggs, gogi barriers, honey, and osmanthus flowers are added in for your preference, and can be eliminated if you do not like one or more of them.
If you do not have time to mix out the rice balls, however, you can purchase frozen rice balls. You will need to thaw them out first though and then add them to the soup base later.
Steps to Making Tang Yuan Soup Recipe
There are several steps to making this dish successful, and one you can enjoy regularly.
- Make Rice Balls
- Build Your Soup Base
- Cook Rice Balls in the Soup
1. Make Rice Balls
If you plan to make these rice balls by hand, you will need hot boiling water, sugar and glutinous rice flour. Mix these three ingredients into a mixing bowl first, then add room-temperature water. Do not overmix your dough and form a ball.
Once you have kneaded out your dough, cover it with plastic wrap and cool in the fridge for a half hour or freezer for 15 minutes. Once they have cooled, cut your dough ball into quarters and begin pinching off some of the dough. Roll it into balls with your hands and set aside on a baking dish.
2. Build Your Soup Base
Begin boiling water on the stovetop with the Umeshu, honey, ginger, and goji berries for up to five minutes, or until you smell the aroma of the ingredients. Once there is a rolling boil, add your rice flour balls to the broth and allow them to cook at a medium boil for approximately five minutes.
Cook Rice Balls in the Soup
It is important to keep in mind that you must keep stirring during this process, as your rice balls could start sticking together. It can take another five minutes for them to be completely cooked and meet the texture requirements that you are looking for in your soup.
If you decide to use frozen rice balls, they will need about 15 minutes to boil, especially if they did not thaw out properly before being added to the soup. Finish off your soup with the osmanthus flowers and two beaten eggs for that egg drop soup imitation.
Moving Forward
If you are looking for a soup that is fun, easy to make, and embraces Chinese culture, you should really add Tang Yuan Soup to your list of recipes. It is great for large parties and can be enjoyed throughout the year instead of during the Lantern Festival. It is also pretty easy to make your own, adding as much or as little of each ingredient as you need.
