Lomi for Chinese New Year 2021

With its rich, thick and egg "enriched" soup that complements the meat and vegetables, LOMI is another Pinoy noodle soup dish which has a big Chinese influence and just in time for todays Lunar New Year celebration welcoming the Year of the Metal Ox.

The noodles used is making Lomi is among the thickest in the Philippine culinary scene and most of the time, soaked in lye water to give it more chewy texture. The soup is also thick because of the addition of egg and other times corn starch.

And it usually has pork, liver, meatballs and seafood balls as well as cabbage carrots as its basic meat and vegetable ingredients.

Because of its popularity around the country, the recipe varies from household to household as well as in the carinderias and restaurants offering the dish. 

Here's a simple Lomi recipe to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2021!

Ingredients

• 1/2 kilo Lomi noodles, 
• 2 cups of pork meat, sliced into strips
• 1 cup pork liver, sliced
• 10 pieces fish/squid/shrimp balls, halved
• Cooking oil
• Minced garlic, around 5 big cloves
• Chopped onion, 1 medium sized
• 1 medium carrot, cut into strips
• 1 medium sayote, cut into strips
• 1 medium cabbage, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup of onion leeks (chopped)
• 2 eggs, beaten
• Salt or fish sauce
• Pepper
• Broth cubes (optional)
• 5 cups of water, adjust
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch, adjust

Procedure

1. In a heated pan, place pork meat and fry it in its own oil for 2-3 minutes. Add some cooking oil then saute the garlic and onion.
2. Add the pork and liver and cook until brown then ddd water and boil then simmer for 10 minutes. 
3. Season with salt and pepper. You can also use broth cubes/fish sauce to adjust the flavor. 
4. Add fish/squid/shrimps balls and continue simmering over medium heat for around 2 minutes or until cooked
5. When the taste of the broth is to your liking, add the Lomi noodles and simmer for another 5-10 minutes.
6. Add carrots, sayote and cabbage and simmer for a minute or two.
7. Finally, pour in the beaten eggs stirring slowly and continuously. Simmer for 2-3 minutes or until the soup thickens. Adjust the soup thickness by adding more water or using cornstarch (mixed with water first in a separate bowl before adding)
8. Remove from heat and transfer in a bowl. Garnish with leeks or fried garlic and serve with soy sauce and chili sauce on the side.

The measurements in the recipe are just guides to make a basic Lomi soup. You may adjust the ingredients and seasoning to suit your personal taste. You may also add a variety of toppings such a meatballs, kikiam, tempura streetfood style, sio mai and other fried meats for a more visually serving of lomi. Enjoy.