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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 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
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

Equipment

5 Quart Pot
5 Quart Pot
$39.95 $28.07
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small soup pot
Soup Bowls
Soup Bowls
$39.99 $29.88
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soup bowl

Cooking Instructions
 

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