Steamboat Stock

I have a very simple steamboat stock recipe which I prepared during my holidays in Cebu, Philippines.  So when my Ma prepared the steamboat as an offering item during the Phor Thor festival, I suggested she tried this stock instead of the usual stock where chicken carcasses are used.   This is the simplest steamboat stock to prepare and I believe it is also healthy and very fragrant.  The ingredients are few and simple and you can adjust the quantity to suit  your preference.

You can also boil this stock and use it to cook any instant soup for noodles, vegetables, seafood and meat.  I tried it before and the soup is tasty and not troublesome at all.  I will post the food recipes using this stock when I prepare it in future. 

Ingredients [must have ingredients but quantity can adjust your own]

A few stalks of lemongrass - clean and lightly bruised

1 - 2 bulbs of garlic with skin - clean and cut into half

chicken or anchovies stock cubes [depends on how much stock to prepare]

1 bunch of spring onions - clean and knotted

water

1. Put water and all other ingredients in a big saucepot.  Bring it to a boil on high heat and turn down to medium low.  Continue boiling till soup is fragrant.  Off fire and stock is ready.  It does not take long to boil this stock. Taste and add some salt to taste if necessary otherwise just omit.
2. Garlic crisps and sesame oil can be added for steamboat soup.           

Steamboat Stock

Steamboat Ingredients - From top - yellow noodles, homemade meatballs, cuttlefish, prawns, fish balls, meat etc