Romanian pork soup with homemade noodles

Name: Romanian pork soup with homemade noodles
Ingredients: 500 g bone-in pork; 2000 ml water; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 medium carrot (100 g); 1 medium onion (150 g); 1 medium potato (150 g); 3 tablespoons tomato paste; 500 ml water for topping up; 200 g homemade noodles; 15 g parsley

Soups - Romanian pork soup with homemade noodles by Antonela E. - Recipia

Romanian pork soup with homemade noodles gets its noodles only at the end, where they cook for 6 minutes. The bone-in meat cooks first, then the carrot, onion, potato and tomato paste go into the same pot; the broth takes on a porky flavor, and the noodles thicken it slightly. I choose ribs with plenty of meat clinging to the bones, so there are pieces to put in every bowl. Preparation: 20 minutes. Cooking: 61 minutes. Total time: 81 minutes. Servings: 4. Approximately 380 kcal and 20 g protein per serving.

Ingredients

500 g bone-in pork
2000 ml water
1 teaspoon salt
1 medium carrot (100 g)
1 medium onion (150 g)
1 medium potato (150 g)
3 tablespoons tomato paste
500 ml water for topping up
200 g homemade noodles
15 g parsley

Preparation

1. Put the pork in 2000 ml water with 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, skim off the foam and let it simmer for 30 minutes, until the meat is half cooked. 2. Peel and wash the carrot, onion and potato, then cut them into pieces. Add them to the pot with the tomato paste and simmer for 25 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and the meat has softened. Add up to 500 ml water if the broth has reduced too much. 3. Add the noodles to the pot and cook for 6 minutes, until tender. 4. Turn off the heat and add the chopped parsley.

Notes

The soup keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days, and the noodles soak up the broth as it sits, so it thickens. Serve with bread and hot peppers. For a fuller flavor, choose ribs or another cut with both bone and meat, not just bone. Large pieces may need more time to become tender, so check them before adding the vegetables. If the tomato paste is salty, taste the broth before adding more salt. Fresh noodles can be replaced with 200 g dried noodles, cooked according to the package instructions. Wheat noodles contain gluten.

Frequently asked questions

Can boneless pork leg be used?

Yes, use 500 g pork leg cut into cubes about 3 cm across and check for tenderness after 35 minutes of simmering.

Why does the broth turn cloudy?

If it boils vigorously, meat particles get mixed into the liquid. After the first boil, keep the heat low and skim off the foam during the first 10 minutes.

What should I do if the soup is too salty?

Add 250 ml hot water and taste again; if needed, add more water in 50 ml increments until the flavor is right.