Preparation of Ingredients
The key to making turtle soup lies in the freshness and quality of the ingredients. When choosing a turtle, select an individual with a hard back armor, firm flesh, and elastic head and limbs. As for auxiliary ingredients, ginger, scallion, cooking wine, salt and Huadiao wine are indispensable. Ginger has the effect of driving away cold and warming the uterus, while scallions can enhance freshness and remove fishy smell. The wine can remove the odor, salt seasoning to increase the freshness, and Huadiao wine to add a mellow wine aroma.
Cleaning and Handling
Cleaning the turtle is the first step in ensuring the soup is clean and hygienic. Repeatedly rinse the inside and outside of the turtle with water to remove the soil and impurities in the belly. Afterwards, use a knife to cut along the old turtle's abdomen to remove the internal organs and blood clots. Remember, the bile of the old turtle is bitter, so keep it intact and avoid breaking it when removing it. When handling the old turtle, move gently to prevent breaking the turtle armor.
Blanching and Seasoning
Blanching is an important step to get rid of the fishy odor. Blanch the turtle in boiling water for a few minutes, then rinse with cold water. After blanching, the old turtle will not only reduce the fishy flavor, but the meat will also become firmer. When blanching, you can add an appropriate amount of ginger and cooking wine to further remove the odor.
Stewing and Juicing
The freshness of the soup base is the essence of old turtle soup. Put the blanched old turtle pieces into a casserole or soup pot, add sliced old ginger, sliced scallions, Hua Diao wine and enough water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then turn down to low heat and simmer. The stewing time depends on the size of the old turtle, usually 2-3 hours. During the stewing process, skim off the floating foam to keep the soup clear.
When the soup is rich and fragrant, and the turtle meat is crispy and delicious, you can collect the juice and seasoning. Add salt to taste, and add other seasonings such as pepper or goji berries according to personal taste. When the sauce is reduced, it can be simmered over high heat to make the soup become thicker and more gelatinous.
The final touch
Before serving, sprinkle with chopped cilantro or green onion to add color and flavor. A bowl of old turtle soup with attractive color and aroma will be completed.
Tips
When stewing the turtle, you can add an appropriate amount of red dates, wolfberries or angelica and other Chinese herbs to enhance the nourishing effect.
During the stewing process, you can add water according to the consistency of the soup.
Lao Turtle Soup is rich in nutrients and should not be kept for a long time. It is recommended to drink it now to ensure the taste and nutritional value.
When making Old Turtle Soup, you can adjust the amount of seasonings according to your own preferences to achieve the most satisfactory taste.