Hawai‘i Comfort Food: A Homemade Recipe for Oxtail Soup

Slow simmering makes oxtail fall-off-the-bone tender. Feel free to eat with your fingers.

Photo: Christi Young

There is a little debate about where my grandma got her recipe for this lip-smacking, collagen-heavy soup. The suspicion is that she found her favorite in one of the Hawaiian Electric cookbooks then added a few ingredients of her own including, at one point, tangerine peel. It was later deleted.

I don’t know what rendition of this dish I received from my mom, but all I know is that it has the flavors I grew up with. And when I make it, my husband, father-in-law and one of my close friends wait eagerly, ginger shoyu at the ready.

My girls were a little skittish when they saw the large chunks of oxtail. So, I broke the meat off the bone and threw some fresh saimin noodles in the broth for more keiki-friendly eating.

See also: Hawai’i Comfort Food: Tom Yum-Style Soup Recipe

Oxtail Soup

Ingredients

• 6 lbs. of oxtail, blanched and drained
• 2 cups raw, unshelled peanuts
• 6-8 shiitake mushrooms, soaked and cut in half or thirds
• 3 star anise prongs
• 2 teaspoons Hawaiian salt
• 1 1/2-inch piece of ginger, smashed plus a few pieces for ginger shoyu
• 2-3 carrots, peeled and cut in chunks
• 4 quarts water
• 1-2 chicken bouillon cubes

Instructions

1. Put all ingredients in a pot and bring to boil.
2. Simmer for 2 1/2–3 hours.
3. Use a gravy separator to remove the oil or skim oil off the top.
4. Add salt to taste
5. Optional: add 1/4 cup good whiskey 30 minutes before done.
6. Use a garlic press to squeeze the juice out of a 1-inch piece of fresh ginger and mix with shoyu. Serve on the side.
7. Top with green onions or cilantro, to taste.

Note: If you like your peanuts firm or on the crunchier side, add them in the last hour.