usa street food

Yakamein Recipe

Yakamein: New Orleans’ “Old Sober” Noodle Soup

Yakamein new orleans street food recipe

Yakamein, often affectionately called “Old Sober,” is a unique and comforting noodle soup with a rich history in New Orleans. This tasty dish typically features beef, shrimp, noodles, hard-boiled eggs, and green onions in a savoury broth.

 

Yields:  4-6 servings  Prep time:  20 minutes  Cook time:  2-3 hours

Ingredients


  • 1 pound (450g) beef brisket or chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 8 cups (1.9 liters) beef broth
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning (such as Tony Chachere’s)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 8 ounces (225g) spaghetti or other long noodles
  • 1/2 pound (225g) small shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and halved
  • 1/2 cup (60g) green onions, thinly sliced
  • Hot sauce, for serving (optional)


 

Method


  • Brown the Beef: Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the beef cubes and cook until browned on all sides.

  • Add Broth and Seasonings: Pour in the beef broth, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Creole seasoning, garlic powder, and black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 2-3 hours, or until the beef is very tender and easily shreds with a fork.

  • Cook the Noodles: About 15-20 minutes before the beef is done, cook the spaghetti or other noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain the noodles and set aside.

  • Add Shrimp: In the last 5 minutes of cooking the beef, add the peeled and deveined shrimp to the simmering broth. Cook until the shrimp are pink and cooked through.

  • Assemble the Yakamein: Divide the cooked noodles among bowls. Ladle the hot broth with beef and shrimp over the noodles. Top each serving with two hard-boiled egg halves and a generous sprinkle of thinly sliced green onions.

  • Serve: Serve the Yakamein hot, with hot sauce on the side for those who like extra spice.

 

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