Most soups have high nutritional value, but if you are really looking for a soup that is going to be hearty and good for you, then you will want to try the beef, water chestnut and rice soup recipe. Although it turns out tasting like a gourmet meal, you only need a few basic ingredients and a couple hours to prepare this dish.

The nutritional value of this soup is very high, especially if you use fresh ingredients. It is a great soup to serve for lunch or dinner.

Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 350 g lean beef
• 1 liter fresh beef stock
• 1 cinnamon stick, broken
• 2 star anise
• 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 2 tbsp dry sherry
• 3 tbsp tomato puree
• 115 g water chestnuts, drained and sliced
• 175 g cooked white rice
• 1 tsp zested orange rind
• 6 tbsp orange juice
• salt and pepper
• strips of orange rind and 2 tbsp snipped chives to garnish

1. Carefully trim away any fat from the beef. Cut the beef into thin strips and then place into a large saucepan.
2. Pour over the stock and add the cinnamon, star anise, soy sauce, sherry, tomato puree and water chestnuts. Bring to the boil, skimming away any surface scum with a flat ladle. Cover the pan and simmer gently for about 20 minutes or until the beef is tender.
3. Skim the soup with a flat ladle to remove any scum again. Remove and discard the cinnamon and star anise. Blot the surface with absorbent kitchen paper to remove any fat.
4. Stir in the rise, orange rind and juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Heat through for 2 to 3 minutes before ladling into warm bowls. Serve the soup garnished with strips of orange rind and snipped chives.

“Omit the rice for a lighter soup that is ideal starter for an Oriental meal of many courses. For a more substantial soup that would be a meal in its own right, add diced vegetables such as carrots, bell pepper, sweetcorn or courgette”.

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