Canh Bi Do is a comforting Vietnamese pumpkin soup—simple, wholesome, and full of flavor. With tender pumpkin and a touch of pork or shrimp, it’s light yet nourishing, a true everyday favorite.
What is Canh ?
Growing up in Vietnam, dinner at home was never about big showy dishes like Phở or Bún Bò Huế. Those were treats we’d go out for. At home, meals were simple: a pot of rice, a savory dish, some veggies, and always a bowl of Canh.
Canh is our everyday soup: quick, brothy, and comforting, usually made with vegetables and a little minced pork or shrimp.
Most take 10–15 minutes, like Canh Rau Dền (amaranth soup) or Canh Chua (sweet & sour fish soup). Some, like Canh Khổ Qua, need a bit more time, but they’re still easy enough for a family meal.
Want to learn more about the herbs and veggies that make canh so special? I’ve got a whole post on Vietnamese herbs and Vietnamese vegetables waiting for you!
Ingredients
- Pumpkin or Squash: Both work well, but kabocha and butternut squash are my top picks.
- Protein: Minced pork, chicken, beef, or shrimp are all great options. Pork and shrimp are the most traditional choices.
- Seasonings: Chicken powder, or simply use salt and MSG for seasoning.
- Shallots or the white part of scallions: These create a fragrant and flavorful base for the soup.
- Herbs: Rice paddy herb pairs best with Canh Bí Đỏ, but cilantro and scallions are great substitutes.
Instructions
Step 1: Prep & Sauté. Thinly slice the pumpkin. Sauté shallots in oil, then cook the ground pork until lightly browned.
Step 2: Cook Soup. Add water and pumpkin, boil until tender (about 8 minutes). Season with chicken bouillon, salt, and MSG.
Step 3: Finish & Serve. Stir in fresh herbs and serve hot.
How to Build a Balanced Vietnamese Meal
A simple Vietnamese meal is all about balance: cơm (rice) + canh (soup) + mặn (savory protein) + rau (veggies or pickles). Here’s how it usually comes together:
🍚 Cơm (Rice)
Steamed jasmine rice is the heart of the meal—fluffy, comforting, and simple. (I even have a quick recipe for microwave jasmine rice for busy days!)
🍲 Canh (Soup)
A light, refreshing soup that balances the richer dishes:
- Canh Bau Tom – opo squash & shrimp soup
- Canh Ca Chua Trung – egg & tomato soup
- Canh Khoai Mo – ube soup
🥩 Mặn (Savory Protein)
The main star of the meal, often braised, caramelized, or pan-fried:
- Thit Kho Tieu – braised pork with pepper
- Trung Chien – simple egg omelette
- Suon Xao Chua Ngot – sweet & sour pork ribs
- Ga Kho Gung – chicken braised with ginger
🥬 Rau (Veggies / Pickles)
Fresh or pickled, they lighten and refresh the meal:
- Do Chua (Pickled carrot & daikon)
- Dua Chua (Pickled mustard greens)
- Stir-fried morning glory or blanched greens
🌶️ Extras (Optional but common)
- Nuoc Cham (dipping fish sauce with garlic, chili, lime, sugar)
Simple Vietnamese Pumpkin Soup (Canh Bí Đỏ)
Ingredients
- 0.9 lb pumpkin or squash (400g) (peeled, deseeded)
- 0.45 lb ground pork or minced shrimp (200g)
- ½ tbsp minced shallots (or white part of scallions)
- 1 tsp cooking oil
- 4 cup water (1 liter)
- ½ tbsp chicken bouillon powder (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp MSG (optional)
- Fresh herbs (rice paddy herbs, scallions, or cilantro) (finely chopped)
Instructions
- Thinly slice the pumpkin.
- In a pot, sauté shallots in cooking oil until fragrant. Add the ground pork and cook until it's just browned.
- Pour in the water and bring to a boil. Add the pumpkin and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Season with chicken bouillon powder, salt, and MSG to taste.
- Stir in the fresh herbs and serve.
