Vietnamese Pork Spare Rib Soup with Chayote (Canh Suon Nau Su Su)

Vietnamese home cooking features a variety of vegetable soups, which are commonly enjoyed alongside steamed rice and other side dishes.

Among these classic vegetable soups is Pork Spare Rib Soup with Chayote Squash, known as Canh Sườn Nấu Su Su in Vietnamese.

This authentic Vietnamese soup brings together tender pork ribs and the delicate, naturally sweet taste of chayote squash. The result is a delicious and flavorful classic light soup that reminds us of home.

What You Will Need

To make this classic Vietnamese vegetable soup, you will need the following:

Pork Ribs — You can get pork spare ribs at Asian grocery stores that will come in strings rather than large slabs. Separate the string of ribs with a knife to get individual pork ribs.

Chayote Squash — Chayote, also known as Trái Su Su in Vietnamese, Mirliton, and choko, is a light green, pear-shaped vegetable belonging to the gourd family. It grows on vines and has a center pit. When cooked, it develops a mildly sweet taste and adds flavor and texture to Vietnamese soups and stir-fries.

Chayote contains latex, a milky sap found in the skin, which can cause skin irritation and stickiness. To avoid this, it is recommended to wear gloves during handling.

Chayote also comes in varying skin textures. Some have rough skin with small, soft spikes or thorns, while others have a smooth skin. Rough-skinned chayote generally has higher latex content compared to the smoother ones. The chayote sold at the grocery stores typically is the smooth skin variety with little sap.

Fish Sauce — The salt of the East that offers a salty umami flavor.

Salt — A bit of salt because too much of fish sauce can result in a pungent smell.

Chicken or Mushroom Bouillon Powder — The ultimate secret weapon in Vietnamese home cooking. It’s important to note that traditional chicken bouillon often contains a small amount of MSG (monosodium glutamate). However, if you prefer to avoid MSG, you have the option to omit the bouillon powder and replace it with a reduced amount of salt.

Shallot, Garlic, and Whites of Green Onions/Scallions — Our main aromatics for the amazing Asian perfume.

Neutral Oil — Just a bit to fry the aromatics. I’m using vegetable oil. You can substitute with corn, sunflower, canola, peanut or avocado oil.

Garnishes — The green part of green onions and ground black pepper for a beautiful finish.

How to Make It

Step 1: Parboil the pork spare ribs. This will help to get rid of the impurities that may cloud the broth and any lingering foul porky smell.

Step 2: Peel and cut the chayote squash into thick matchsticks and prep the aromatics.

Step 3: Make the bone broth. Start with toasting the aromatics with oil, then add the parboiled spare ribs to a small stock pot and water. Simmer on medium-low until ribs are tender.

Step 4: Add chayote and season broth to taste. You want to cook the chayote until just tender, as overcooking can cause them to break into many pieces. Season to taste with fish sauce, salt, sugar, and bouillon powder.

Step 5: Garnish and serve. Sprinkle with sliced green onions and dash of black pepper. Serve with a main protein dish and steamed rice for a complete meal.

How to Enjoy Vietnamese Soup

Now that you made the vegetable soup, here’s how to eat it in a traditional Vietnamese family meal with steamed rice:

Place a small bowl of steamed rice in front of each diner. Shared side dishes are placed at the center of the table.
Begin by enjoying the rice along with the main side dishes, setting aside the vegetable soup for later.
Once your rice bowl is halfway empty, pour some soup over the remaining rice. This is done to cleanse the palate during the meal.
Continue serving yourself with other side dishes and the soupy rice until all the rice is consumed.
If desired, you can refill your bowl with rice and repeat the process.

Or, skip all of the above mentioned steps and enjoy it however you like. When I’m lazy or it’s just me eating, I’d just have everything together in the same bowl.

Other Soups You May Enjoy

Kabocha Squash Soup with Chicken
Pork Spare Rib Soup with Potatoes, Carrots and Cauliflower
Cabbage and Shrimp Soup
Mustard Green Soup with Shrimp Balls
Chicken Soup with Baby Spinach
Pompano Fish and Sour Bamboo Soup

Popular Dishes to Complete the Meal

Quick & Easy Vietnamese Caramelized Ground Pork Rice Bowls
Easy Chinese-Style Soy Sauce Braised Pork Ribs
Caramelized Ginger Chicken
Pan-Fried Lemongrass Spicy Chicken