ABC Soup (Pork Ribs with Assorted Vegetables Soup)

Chinese “ABC Soup”

This Chinese pork ribs soup with vegetables (potatoes, carrots, onions, celery) is commonly known as “ABC soup” here. I am puzzled as to why it is called ABC soup since there are no pasta letters in it, and the main ingredients (typically potatoes and carrots) do not all start with the letters A, B and C.

Well, I thought about it, and I guess maybe it’s because making this soup is as easy as abc? Unlike the Chinese minestrone soup I made earlier which requires a lot of time to dice all the vegetables, in this version you just need to cut the vegetables to huge chunks. Preparation time is short and pretty effortless.

Or maybe because this soup is so nutritious, so it possibly contains vitamins A, B and C among a host of other nutrients? I just know that this soup tastes great and easy to make especially for a weekday dinner.

Updated (28 Jan 2010) – Possible reasons for the name “ABC Soup” from readers’ comments, thanks for sharing! :-)

1) Thanks @Steve Seto – “It’s called “ABC” because it’s popular with American Born Chinese. It’s a name given by native Chinese restaurant workers.”
2) Thanks @k “I read from somewhere that it’s called ABC soup because: A-nion, B-otato, C-arrot”
3) Thanks @Michelle Chew “Scientifically and logically, the name ‘ABC’ for this soup arises from the vitamins it provides: Vit A – Carrot, Vit B – Potato (Vit B6 in specific), Vit C – Tomato”
4) My theory (to add on): “Making this soup is as easy as ABC!“

Ingredients
(Serves 2-3)
250g pork ribs
1.3 l water
2-3 medium sized potatoes, peeled, cut to chucks
1 large onion, cut to chunks
2 carrots, peeled, cut to chunks
2-3 stalks celery, cut to chunks
1 tbsp deep-fried ikan billis (anchovies)
salt (if needed)

Directions
1. Blanch pork ribs in boiling water for about 5 minutes, then rinse with cold water, set aside.
2. Add water, blanched pork ribs and all the ingredients into soup pot. Bring to rapid boil for first 10 mins, then simmer over low fire for another 40-50 mins.
3. Season with salt if needed. Serve with warm rice.

Cooking Notes
1. You can add one tomato (cut to wedges) if you want a slightly tangy taste.
2. You can also add some sweet corn (cut to huge chunks) which is a commonly added ingredient in ABC soup.

Ingredients Used anchovy • carrot • celery • onion • pork • potato