Wok of Life Spicy Beef Noodle Soup

This paleo, keto, gluten-free, and Whole30 Chinese Beef Noodle Soup is a comforting dish that you can easily make in an Instant Pot or on the stovetop!

A paleo, Whole30, keto version of Chinese Beef Noodle Soup

When I was a child, one of the standard weekend lunches my mom cooked for me was Chinese beef noodle soup. It was always hearty, comforting, and warmed me up from the inside out. Nostalgia for this cold-weather soup inspired me to make a simplified and paleo-friendly version, so I started tinkering with different Whole30-compatible ingredients to try to replicate the Cantonese flavors of my mom's dish. And guess what? I did it!

This simple and healthy version of Chinese beef noodle soup uses easy to find kitchen staples AND it won't make you feel sleepy or weighed down after you slurp it up!

Faster results in the Instant Pot!

I'm all about shortcuts to deliciousness, so if I can dump all the ingredients in an Instant Pot and walk away—that's what I'll do every single time. Pressure-cook some chuck roast cubes in water seasoned with garlic, ginger, scallions, shiitake mushrooms, coconut aminos, and fish sauce, and you, too, can end up with a flavorful umami-packed beef broth AND perfectly tender stewed beef. (Some folks insist on blanching the beef cubes first to remove impurities, but I don't think it's necessary.)

Can you make it on the stovetop?

Yes! If you don't have an Instant Pot, you can simmer the beef and soup ingredients in a large covered pot for about 2 to 3 hours or until the beef is fork tender. Keep checking to see if too much of the liquid has evaporated and add more water as needed. Also, you can skim off any scum when you check on the amount of liquid.

Make ahead instructions

You can make the beef soup part ahead of time and serve it later in the week when you need a fast noodle soup for dinner pronto! The beef soup can be stored in the fridge in a sealed container for up to four days or in the freezer for up to four months. When you're ready to serve the beef noodle soup, reheat the soup on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot (2 minutes under high pressure) and serve with spiralized zucchini and cooked baby bok choy.

Is this the same as Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup?

Nope. Taiwanese beef noodle soup does have braised beef and noodles, but this is a Cantonese-inspired dish. It's not spicy, and isn't flavored with tomatoes, chilies, star anise, or cinnamon. A tasty Instant Pot Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup recipe can be found at The Woks of Life (but note that it's not paleo!).

Ingredients

Beef chuck roast, cut into 2-inch chunks: My favorite cut of beef to use in this soup is chuck roast, but you can also use boneless short ribs, beef shank, or brisket. These cuts are all relatively inexpensive and get fork tender the longer you cook them.
Red Boat Fish Sauce + coconut aminos: I use a combination of Red Boat fish sauce and coconut aminos to replicate the flavor of soy sauce and/or dark soy sauce in my Cantonese dishes.
Diamond Crystal kosher salt
Dried shiitake mushrooms: I always stock dried shiitake mushrooms in my pantry to add a punch of umami to soups and stews. There's no need to rehydrate them before you throw them in the Instant Pot or in the stock pot.
Aromatics: I use the holy triumvirate of Cantonese aromatics (i.e., ginger, garlic, and scallions/green onions) to flavor the beef broth.
Baby bok choy: My favorite vegetable to throw in this soup is baby bok choy but feel free to substitute spinach, mustard greens, or your favorite Asian greens.
Spiralized zucchini: In place of egg noodles, I use spiralized zucchini in this soup. I don't cook them first—I just ladle piping hot soup on top and they soften to an al dente texture before you serve them.
Toasted sesame oil: Adds a nutty fragrance to the soup, but you can leave it out if you're allergic or don't have any on hand.

How to make Chinese Beef Noodle Soup in the Instant Pot

Make the beef broth

Place the beef chunks into the metal insert of an Instant Pot.

Next, add the water, fish sauce, coconut aminos, and Diamond Crystal kosher salt.

Drop in the dried shiitake mushrooms, sliced ginger, and garlic cloves.

Cut two of the scallions into three pieces and plop 'em in the Instant Pot.

Thinly slice the remaining scallions and reserve for garnish.

Lock the lid and program the Instant Pot to pressure-cook for 35 minutes under high pressure. When the beef soup is done cooking, let the pressure come down naturally.

Cook the baby bok choy

While the beef soup is cooking, bring a pot of water to a boil. Add a large pinch of salt.

When the water is boiling, add the baby bok choy and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until tender crisp. Remove the bok choy with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Serve the Chinese Beef Noodle Soup

Open up the Instant Pot and discard the ginger, garlic, and scallions.

Take out the mushrooms. Cut off and discard the stems. Then, slice the mushrooms and set aside.

Use a slotted spoon to transfer the stewed beef to a bowl. Toss the meat with the remaining tablespoon of coconut aminos.

Add the toasted sesame oil to the beef soup. Taste the soup and adjust seasoning if needed.

Grab six soup bowls and divide the spiralized zucchini to each one. Ladle the broth on the zucchini noodles.

Add the seasoned meat, sliced shiitake mushrooms, and cooked bok choy on top of each bowl.

Scatter the sliced scallions on top and enjoy!

More paleo and Whole30 Chinese Soups

Wonton Soup
Westlake Beef Soup
Hot and Sour Soup
Simple Egg Drop Soup
Pork and Napa Cabbage Soup
Watercress and Chicken Soup

Looking for more recipe ideas? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You'll also find exclusive recipes on my iPhone and iPad app, and in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013), Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017), and Nom Nom Paleo: Let's Go! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2022).

PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE CARD

Chinese Beef Noodle Soup (Instant Pot or Stovetop)

This paleo, keto, gluten-free, and Whole30 Chinese Beef Noodle Soup is a comforting dish that you can easily make in an Instant Pot or on the stovetop!

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 1 hr

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: gluten-free, Instant Pot, keto, low carb, nom nom paleo, nomnompaleo, paleo, Pressure Cooker, Whole30

Servings: 6

Calories: 322 kcal

2 pounds beef chuck roast cut into 1½ inch cubes
8 cups water
2 tablespoons Red Boat fish sauce
3 tablespoons coconut aminos divided
Diamond Crystal kosher salt
4 dried shiitake mushrooms
2 inch piece fresh ginger peeled and cut into thin coins
3 garlic cloves smashed
4 scallions divided
1 pound baby bok choy cut lengthwise in half or quarters
½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1½ pounds zucchini spiralized

Place the beef chunks into the metal insert of an Instant Pot. Add the water, fish sauce, 2 tablespoons coconut aminos, 1 tablespoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt, shiitake mushrooms, sliced ginger, and garlic. Cut two of the scallions into three pieces and add it in.
Thinly slice the remaining two scallions and reserve for garnish.
Lock the lid of the Instant Pot and program it to cook for 35 minutes under high pressure. When the beef soup is finished cooking, let the pressure come down naturally.
While the beef soup is cooking, bring a pot of water to a boil. Add a large pinch of salt.
When the water is boiling, add the baby bok choy and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until tender crisp. Remove the bok choy with a slotted spoon and set aside.
Ready to serve the beef noodle soup? Open up the Instant Pot and discard the ginger, garlic, and scallions.
Take out the shiitake mushrooms. Cut off and discard the stems. Then, slice the mushrooms and set aside.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer the stewed beef to a bowl. Toss the meat with the remaining tablespoon of coconut aminos.
Add the toasted sesame oil to the beef soup. Taste the soup and adjust seasoning if needed.
Grab six soup bowls and divide the spiralized zucchini to each one. Ladle the broth on the zucchini noodles.
Add the seasoned meat, sliced shiitake mushrooms, and cooked bok choy on top of each bowl. Scatter the sliced scallions on top and enjoy!

Stovetop instructions:

If you don't have an Instant Pot, you can simmer the beef and soup ingredients in a large pot for 2 to 3 hours or until the beef is fork tender. Keep checking to see if too much of the liquid has evaporated and add more water as needed. Also, you can skim off any scum when you top off the soup.

Make-ahead instructions:

You can make the beef soup ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to four days or in the freezer for up to four months. When you're ready to serve it, reheat the soup on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot (2 minutes under high pressure) and serve with spiralized zucchini and cooked baby bok choy.

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Source: https://nomnompaleo.com/chinese-beef-noodle-soup