Mou's Beef Offal Soup

Mou's Beef Offal Soup

　　At the Lucheng Horse Market, a neighborhood predominantly inhabited by the Hui ethnic group, there are several beef shops where the cattle are slaughtered by imams. These beef shops also sell beef offal soup, but among them, the beef soup from the Mou family, located above the mosque, is the most beloved. The offal—intestines, stomachs, and the like—are cleaned meticulously. The beef bones and offal are simmered over high heat and then gently stewed in pots two to three feet deep. The resulting broth is white, richly aromatic, and delicious. The beef offal pieces are tender, soft, and flavorful, served with one or two small plates of salt and scallions. Patrons come in an endless stream—some dine in the shop, while others take away several bowls in containers to enjoy at home with their meals.