5 Spade - Bún Riêu

Bún Riêu


Crab and Tomato Vermicelli Soup

A tangy and savory rice vermicelli soup made with crab paste, tomatoes, tofu, and sometimes pork or snails, topped with fresh herbs.

Other variations:

Bún riêu cua, Bún riêu ốc, Bún riêu tôm, Bún riêu chay

Category

Noodle Soup

Region

Northern Vietnam

Preparation Time

2h05

Servings

4–5

Difficulty

Medium

About this recipe

Bún Riêu is a beloved Northern Vietnamese dish known for its bright red-orange broth from tomatoes and annatto oil. The dish features a delicate crab-based broth and is often served with fried tofu and fresh greens.

Ingredients List

300 g freshwater crab or 150 g crab paste 300 g pork bones 400 g dried rice vermicelli 3–4 ripe tomatoes (quartered) 200 g fried tofu 1 tbsp annatto seeds 2 tbsp shrimp paste 2 tbsp fish sauce 2 scallions (chopped) fresh herbs to serve lime wedges

Materials & Tools

Large soup pot ladle strainer knife and chopping board mixing bowls

Preparation steps

Total Time :

2h05

Active Time :

1h05

Cooking Time

1h00

Step 1

Prep Crab

Pound crabs, extract meat, strain for crab water.

15 min

Step 2

Make Broth

Simmer pork bones in water 45–60 minutes.

1h00

Step 3

Color Oil

Fry annatto seeds in oil until red, discard seeds.

5 min

Step 4

Sauté Tomatoes

Cook tomatoes in annatto oil until soft.

10 min

Step 5

Add Crab Water

Pour crab water into broth, bring to boil, clusters form.

10 min

Step 6

Add Ingredients

Add tomatoes, tofu, shrimp paste, season with fish sauce.

10 min

Step 7

Cook Noodles

Boil vermicelli, drain.

10 min

Step 8

Assemble Bowl

Noodles with broth, crab clusters, tofu, herbs.

5 min

Chef’s Tips

For authentic flavor, use freshwater crab; avoid stirring vigorously after adding crab water to keep clusters intact.

Serving Suggestions

Fresh herbs, lime wedges, sliced chili, shrimp paste on the side

Nutritional info

360kcal
20g protein
10g fat
48g carbs

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