Beef Noodle Soup: what is it?

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Beef noodle soup is a very broad culinary term that refers to any soup with beef and noodles as the main components. Nearly every kitchen in the world has some sort of traditional beef noodle soup, and nearly every home cook has their own version. Beef noodle soups are also extremely common in supermarkets around the world as canned, dehydrated, frozen and instant products. A typical beef noodle soup is a broth-based soup, with beef broth as the liquid component and a type of noodle, most often a large, filling noodle, such as egg noodles or kluski, although many are used other types of pasta parts of the world.

Most typical beef noodle soups start with a beef stock or bouillon base. This can come from a variety of sources: from homemade beef stock to canned or instant stock from bullion cubes, noodles, or granules. The beef flavor of the broth can be mild or very rich, depending on the recipe. The broth can also be flavored with vegetable flavors such as onions, celery, carrots, or savory herbs, such as thyme, savory, or rosemary. In some parts of the world, such as the Far East, many exotic herbs and spices are possible.

Beef is not always used in beef noodle soup, such as instant ramen soups, although it is found in most recipes. It is generally found in most versions of this soup in the form of cubes of lean beef, such as almond roast or stewed beef, usually simmered in broth for long periods until well done, but tender. In many instant or dehydrated prepackaged soup products, the ingredients may list beef, but it is generally powdered or in very small pieces.

Noodles for beef noodle soup vary widely from one cuisine to another. In the Far East, noodles can be rice noodles, maifun or more traditional noodles. In many Western cuisines, noodles are often either wide or short egg noodles, or a special type of noodles called kluski noodles, which are actually something of an intermediary between noodles and the more traditional dumplings, which are favorites for soup because they tend to hold their shape and texture better than many other traditional noodles. Some beef noodle soup recipes may call for other pastas, such as various macaroni or tiny pasta shapes, developed especially for soups, called pastina.

Most recipes in almost any kitchen call for other ingredients as well. Vegetables, such as onion, celery and carrots are the most common, but fruit, nuts or other meats can also be found in some recipes. Herbs and spices are also common additions to beef noodle soup recipes and can vary widely depending on where in the world the recipe is from. Mushrooms are another common addition to many beef noodle soups.

In the Far East, especially China and Taiwan, beef noodle soup is hugely popular and forms the basis for entire restaurant chains and even annual festivals. It is often served on its own with lots of vegetables and long noodles. In Western and European countries, these soups are often found canned in supermarkets and prepared by many home cooks as hearty simple foods.

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