When we were last out in Blacktown, NSW to eat Danbauk at Sun’s Burmese Kitchen, we noticed the Asian Hub Groceries next door were selling Burmese ingredients. Shelves stacked with jars of laphet (pickled tea leaves), brightly coloured packets of different noodle dishes, crispy condiments in tubs, freezer containing seafood, hard to find vegetables like chin-maung ywet (roselle leaves) and fruits such as durian. So we found ourselves like a child in a candy store. There were so many things to buy and try.
The first on our list is Rakhine Moti soup from Min Lan. This sour spicy soup is known as Arr Pu Sha Pu (hot throat, hot tongue) and as the name suggests, it has a bit of a kick from the black pepper and chill.
ingredients
Listed on the back of the packet: yellow pike conger, shrimp paste, black pepper, garlic, galangal, chilli, vegetable powder and pink Himalayan salt.
Inside the packet, there is a piece of paper containing instructions in Burmese and a packet of dried ingredients. As with any packet soup, it’s easy to make. Put the packet ingredients in a saucepan (except the silica gel pouche) and add 1 litre of water (we added more to reduce the saltiness of the soup). Bring the soup to the boil and simmer for 5-10 minutes until all the dried pieces of fish are rehydrated and softened. Serve with rice noodles, coriander and fresh chillies.
taste verdict
The soup is salty, sour and spicy with small chunks of fish. There were also bits of garlic skins and a couple of fish bones in the powder which we pulled out. As a quick soup to rustle up for week day dinners, it’s ideal. Adjust water to reduce saltiness and reduce the black pepper powder if you prefer it less spicy. Then add some wilted spinach leaves and a soft boiled egg for a more substantial meal.
We have made Rakhine Moti soup previously several years back and it was interesting to see how this packet compare with a home-made version. Here’s my recipe for Rakhine moti if you want to make it from scratch. It’s well worth the effort but if you lack time, the packet soup is a great choice.
where to buy:
Asian Hub Groceries
6 Tulloch St
Blacktown NSW 2148
