Recipe, Soup

Sayur Asem

Name: Sayur Asem (Indonesian Tamarind Vegetable Soup)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 6 cups water; 2 tbsp tamarind paste (or to taste); 1 small onion (sliced); 2 cloves garlic (lightly crushed); 1 cup cabbage (chopped); 1 cup long beans or green beans (cut into pieces); 1 cup corn kernels or 1 ear corn (cut into chunks); 1 small carrot (sliced); 1 tomato (quartered); 1 tsp sugar (palm sugar or brown sugar preferred); Salt (to taste); Optional Add-Ins; Zucchini or chayote; Peanuts; Galangal or bay leaf

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Sayur Asem is a light, refreshing Indonesian soup known for its tangy tamarind broth and mix of vegetables. It’s clean and nourishing, with a gentle sourness balanced by natural sweetness perfect alongside rice or as a warming bowl on its own.

This is Let’s Veg comfort with Southeast Asian soul.

Start with the Vegetable Cooking Guide:
https://letsveg.com/vegetable-cooking-guide

Olivia

Sayur Asem (Indonesian Tamarind Vegetable Soup)

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Sayur asem Indonesian vegetable soup made with tamarind and fresh vegetables. A light Let’s Veg recipe perfect for comforting, plant-forward meals.

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 45

Servings: 6

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Indonesian

Calories: 61

Ingredients Equipment Cooking Instructions Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

6 cups water
2 tbsp tamarind paste or to taste
1 small onion sliced
2 cloves garlic lightly crushed
1 cup cabbage chopped
1 cup long beans or green beans cut into pieces
1 cup corn kernels or 1 ear corn cut into chunks
1 small carrot sliced
1 tomato quartered
1 tsp sugar palm sugar or brown sugar preferred
Salt to taste
Optional Add-Ins
Zucchini or chayote
Peanuts
Galangal or bay leaf

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Equipment

5 Quart Pot

$28.99

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small soup pot

Soup Bowls

$28.88

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soup bowl

Cooking Instructions

Bring water to a boil in a pot.
Add onion and garlic; simmer for 5 minutes.
Stir in tamarind paste, sugar, and salt.
Add corn and carrot; simmer for 10 minutes.
Add green beans and cabbage; cook 8-10 minutes until vegetables are tender.
Add tomato and cook 2-3 minutes more.
Taste and adjust sourness, salt, or sweetness.
Serve hot with steamed rice.

Nutrition

Calories: 61kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 2gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gTrans Fat: 0.002gSodium: 29mgPotassium: 269mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 2054IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 1mg

Notes

Soup should taste lightly sour and refreshing

Tamarind strength varies adjust gradually

Best served fresh

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