How to make Hong Kong style macaroni soup

Now that the weather is getting cooler, some of us enjoy a warm, comforting soup. Look no further than Hong Kong's favourite breakfast food: spam and egg macaroni soup.

This traditional Italian soup of pasta in a tasty broth is cooked in many places in Asia, but no city does it better than Hong Kong. It is an essential item on cha chaan teng menus.

The macaroni and vegetables come swimming in chicken broth, with a fried egg and luncheon meat on top. The dish is sometimes served with a slice of buttered toast.

Some people swap luncheon meat for sausages and pork chop, or add mushrooms and preserved vegetables. Other changes include replacing the chicken broth with tomato soup or creamy corn soup.

Fresh is better

Kathy Ng, a nutrition expert, says the dish's ingredients can make the difference between junk food and healthy food. "Macaroni soup is an excellent breakfast choice if the correct ingredients are used," she says.

But she explains that processed meats, such as ham, luncheon meat and sausage, are high in fat and salt. Using fresh meat is a better choice.

The delicious soup is also not as healthy as we might think. "Canned chicken broth is high in salt, which can lead to high blood pressure. As for cream soup, it is equally high in salt, as well as saturated fat, which raises the level of bad cholesterol in your blood."

Kathy recommends replacing processed meat with fresh meat, and sticking to tomato soup or corn soup. To start the day with a balanced breakfast, try this recipe packed with carbohydrates for energy.

Recipe

Ingredients (serves two)

• 250 grams of macaroni
• 500ml of canned tomato soup
• 500ml of water
• 70 grams of frozen mixed vegetables
• 200 grams of boneless pork chop
• a pinch of salt and pepper
• 1 teaspoon of sesame oil

Directions

1. Cook the macaroni and drain it well.
2. Soak the frozen vegetables in boiling water for three minutes and drain well.
3. Season the pork chop with salt and pepper before cooking. Preheat a pan and add one teaspoon of oil. Cook the chop for five minutes on each side until golden brown.
4. Add tomato soup and water into a large pot and bring the mixture to a boil. Add macaroni and mixed vegetables to the mixture and boil them for another two minutes.
5. Pour the ingredients into bowls before putting the chop on top of the macaroni soup.

Fun facts

Macaroni is a kind of elbow-shaped pasta tube. It is made from wheat. Like all pasta, it must be boiled in water before eating. Besides soup, another popular dish is macaroni with cheese.

Quick questions

1. What kinds of soup base can be used for macaroni soup?  
2. Why is fresh meat better than processed meat?
3. 3. What new ingredient would you like to add to macaroni soup?