ABC Soup
Chinese “ABC Soup”
Note: This was first posted in Jul 2009, now updated with new photos and improved recipe.
This Chinese pork ribs soup with vegetables (potatoes, carrots, onions, celery) is commonly known as “ABC soup” or “luo song tang” 罗宋汤 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. Check out the compilation of comments below which explain the origins of the soup name. I know the combination of ingredients is right when 10 minutes into simmering, the entire kitchen is filled with a wonderful soup aroma.
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Updated (28 Jan 2010) – Possible reasons for the name “ABC Soup” from readers’ comments, thanks for sharing! :-)
1) Thanks @k (my fave!) “I read from somewhere that it’s called ABC soup because: A-nion, B-otato, C-arrot”
2) 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.”
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!“
Get the printable recipe for ABC Soup and more photos on page 2.
Pages: 1 2
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{ 55 comments… read them below or add one }
What a coincidence, I plan to cook this tmr! Felt like something really healthy after eating so much for the past few weeks.
Very interesting name ABC for a soup…for its vitamins or for the easy to make it!
A flavorful and healthy soup, just perfect in a cold winter I’ve right now :lol:
Cheers!
Gera
A nice soup and also healthy :)
this ABC soup is alos one of my favourite soup too!! yummy and healthy!!
I used to cook ABC soup too, but with different kind of combination, like tomatoes, pearl corn,…
Maybe cos’ the soup is as easy as ABC lah! Hahhaha
Maybe its suppose to be as easy as ABC to make this soup that’s why its called so.
Sometimes, simple is best. The soup looks beautiful – clear and light. I also add alphabet pasta when I make this for my children. It becomes a one-dish meal, and I can understand why THAT is called ABC soup! LOL.
Hi 5- I’ve tried adding alphabet pasta to my Chinese minestrone soup too to make a real ABC soup, lol
Your broth looks great, and I love the chunks of vegetables in the soup!
I’ve never tried it before, but you had me at “short and pretty effortless”. :D Looks great!
hmmnn.. this ABC soup looks like it would really be great eaten with rice.
It’s called “ABC” because it’s popular with American Born Chinese. It’s a name given by native Chinese restaurant workers.
That’s really interesting to hear! Now I know another possible reason. Thanks for sharing :)
This sounds really good with the anchovies in it – great flavors! :D
Yeah, we drink these a lot while growing up. Healthy indeed!
This is the first recipe my mum taught me when i first came over to australia years ago. I guess my mum have the same sentiments that making this soup is easy as ABC for someone like me living by myself, and having no prior knowledge to cooking. I now make this soup on a regular basis and sometimes add other stuff like tomato and cauliflower.
How sweet of your mum! You’re right, this soup is so easy to make even for beginners. I’ll try adding some cauliflower next time, it sounds like a nice addition to the soup :)
this is one of my all-time favorite soups which is easy to make and delicious. my mum used to add just a piece of clove, star anise and little bit of cinnamon stick to get a stew flavor. pls send a hot bowl of yours over to me pls! :D
The stew version sounds great too! :-)
Love this soup…reminds me of my childhood :-)
This seems like a childhood favourite for many of us :up:
I have the same bowl from Daiso! And the soup looks yummy. Maybe u can add in the meat also.
I have lots of stuff from Daiso hehe :oops: … you mean add in the meat to photograph? I was told my soup photos don’t look very nice with chunks of meat in them, haa
Hows your new cam? Hope you’re having fun with it :-)
i read from somewhere that it’s called ABC soup because:
A-nion
B-otato
C-arrot
omg that’s so funny!! but it makes a lot of sense too :D
I luv this soup. It is indeed a very simple yet nutritious soup. The best part is it can be served as a 1-dish meal with the add-on of rice or pasta.
I’m missing home like mad (sick…) and this soup reminds me of home straight away! oh so comforting!
I have not heard ABC soup before, I only know the Campbell’s ABC alphabetic soup. Yours in much healthy of course : )
Hi Noobcook
I am an older Chinese American living in San Francisco, CA. I am a newbie (dummy?) when it comes to cooking. Your fantastic recipes and their accompanying photos have whet my interest. I want to start cooking.
Your recipe for ABC soup calls for Ikan Bilis (anchovies). Can you send me the Chinese characters for this, so that I can go Chinatown and purchase them?
Is there a substitute for the anchovies, should I not be able to get them? Would it be ok to omit them from the recipe without sacrificing too much of the flavor?
Thank you for your attention.
H. Ng
Hi H.Ng, the Chinese characters are 江鱼仔. However, I think you can just omit them from the recipe as the taste is quite subtle. Just remember to season the soup with some salt at the end. Thanks for your kind words! Hope you like the recipe when you try it out. :-)
I love to put many tomatoes in ABC soup. This is my husband’s favorite soup. Next time I should try with anchovies too.
I love the tangy taste of tomatoes in soups as well. Thanks for visiting me! :-)
Hi can i check with you what type of onions do u use ? Is it the big white ones ? Will it make the soup sweet ? TY !
Hi Cynthia, yep I use the big white/yellow types. It will make the soup sweet and also give it an earthly flavour. :-)
Wonderful recipe.. :)
Btw, may I ask what is the use/purpose for blanching the pork ribs with boiling water for 5 mins? also in your Chinese Minestrone soup recipe, you blanched the chicken.
Hi Janice, the purpose is to remove the “scum” so that you have clear soup. However you can skip this step if you don’t mind the tiny particles in the soup after cooking.
Hi, if you dont mind me interrupting. I happened to visit your blog and cant help but feeling entertained by all sorts of explanation on how the ‘ABC’ name comes from. Scientifically and logically, the name ‘ABC’ for this soup arise from the vitamins it provides
Vit A – Carrot
Vit B – Potato (Vit B6 in specific)
Vit C – Tomato
Voila!!
Thanks for sharing your insight Michelle! Your explanation makes a lot of sense as well. I decided to update this post with all the possible reasons that are shared in the comments section, including yours. Hmm they all sound equally plausible, I wonder which is the real explanation behind the origins of the name for this soup hehe :-)
Great website! Good guidance for beginner like me, i’ve cooked the ABC soup just like ABC that easy, thanks!
Hi hi, tried this yesterday from Singapore… Found my soup lacks flavour. I added everything in the receipe ncluding tomatos. If the taste is too bland, what can i add? Or do i need to boil it longer to set the flavour in? I added quite a bit of salt and soya sauce. Should i add yellow beans and sweet corns? Or some stock? Sorry for the oob questions… :)
From where I’m from, the term ABC quite often means (where food is concerned) ‘with the works’ – in other words, just chuck everything in…
Love this!! A taste of home….
one of my fav… yummy…
I think it’s called ABC because it’s super easy to cook. But I also read somewhere that it’s a simplified version of the Luo Song Tang 罗宋汤. Either way it’s delicious and positively comforting!
you are right about the alternate name 罗宋汤 … updated the post. thanks.
I used to add some cracked white peppers too. :)
Love the simplicity of this soup…so healthy and so tasty…beautifully done.
Hope you are having a great week :)
interesting soup!!!!!
Hi there, i enjoy reading your posts very much. Makes me very inspired to get started cooking simple meals! And the ABC soup has got to be my all time favourite soup :) Would like to ask, where can i purchase disposable soup pouches?
Thank you in advance!
Its call ABC soup because its A – Ang Mo Kio (Tomato)
B – Bah Kut (pork ribs)
C – Carrot
I am going to try your ABC soup.I like all the info you are shaering . I thank you .
I also have a question , I love diem Sum but can’t find a recipe can you help me.
Hi, where can I buy disposable soup pouch? Thanks.
Hi there, love this soup recipe.
I noticed from the picture that you used Thermal magic pot to cook. I am looking around to buy a suitable one. For the above serving of 4 recipe, what is the best size?
My parents have one 6 L but it’s too big for me and I remember if too big, it’s not effective in retaining the heat to cook.
Is 4.5 L suitable or 3L? 3L seems a little bit full if include all the ingredients.
Thanks!
Hi, I am using the 4.5litres and it can cook for 2-6 persons. Personally I find 6L too big for my need (the SA told me that for this pot to be effective, it needs to be filled at least 1/2 to 3/4). So personally I chose the in-between option: 4.5L. Hope this helps.