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Homemade Soup Day
Feb 4
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"OXtail soup: Where the X marks the spot for flavor, and the O is the hug your taste buds didn’t know they needed!"
Warm up your beginning dance class with a simple and easy to learn reel full of 'O's and 'X's figures, not to mention a long cast for "tail" named for this most humble of soup recipes! As an added bonus, February is definitely the month for X's and O's!
That hearty concoction between a soup and stew, oxtail soup (often using the tail end of beef, not ox) has been a beloved staple across various cultures for centuries. In the United Kingdom, since the 18th century, folks have savored its thick, gravy-like richness, often pairing it with crusty bread on chilly days. Meanwhile, in the American South, an oxtail soup tracing its roots back to the pre-revolutionary era has been cherished for its deep, comforting flavors. Across the globe, countries like Korea, China, and Indonesia have their own cherished versions, each adding unique local ingredients and spices to this timeless dish. Whether it's the Creole-style tomato-based version with potatoes and green beans or the Indonesian 'sop buntut' featuring fried or grilled oxtail, this soup showcases the universal appeal of turning humble ingredients into soul-warming meals! Dance description and Scottish recipe version included!❤️ ❌ ⭕ ❌ 🕺 💃 🍲 🧅 🥕 🌿 🥦
Oxtail Soup
Oxtail soup is a savory dish made by simmering oxtails—typically from cattle rather than oxen—in a flavorful broth. The gelatin-rich meat imparts a rich taste and hearty consistency to the soup. Various cultures have developed their own versions of oxtail soup, each incorporating unique ingredients and preparation methods.
Chinese Oxtail Soup
In Chinese cuisine, oxtail soup (牛尾汤, Niúwěi tāng) is a hearty dish that borders between a soup and a stew. It features large chunks of oxtail, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, tomatoes, and mushrooms. These ingredients are simmered together, allowing the tomatoes and potatoes to break down and thicken the broth, giving it a reddish-orange hue. The result is a rich, flavorful soup served with all its chunky components.
Hawaiian Oxtail Soup
Hawaiian oxtail soup is reminiscent of Vietnamese pho, featuring a clear broth subtly flavored with star anise. Common spices include ginger, onions, dried citrus peel (chen pi), peppercorns, and bay leaves. The soup often contains raw peanuts, dried shiitake mushrooms, and mustard cabbage. It's typically garnished with scallions and cilantro, with fresh grated ginger and soy sauce served on the side as condiments.
Indonesian Oxtail Soup (Sop Buntut)
In Indonesia, sop buntut is a beloved dish made from fried or grilled oxtail pieces served in a clear, rich beef broth. The soup includes boiled potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, leeks, celery, fried shallots, and dried black mushrooms. It's seasoned with shallots, garlic, black pepper, nutmeg, and cloves. A variation called sop buntut goreng features seasoned and fried oxtail served dry, accompanied by the soup in a separate bowl. This dish is commonly enjoyed with rice and accompanied by sambal, sweet soy sauce, and lime juice.
Korean Oxtail Soup (Kkori-gomtang)
Korean oxtail soup, known as kkori-gomtang (꼬리곰탕), is a type of beef bone soup. The broth is prepared by simmering raw oxtail with garlic, salt, black pepper, and green onions for several hours until the meat becomes tender and the broth rich and flavorful. The soup is typically served with rice and can also be used as a base for other dishes like tteokguk (rice cake soup).
For a Scottish version of this traditional soup, click the Campbell's canned version!
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
