Recipes Ingredients Meat & Poultry Beef Recipes Beef, Pumpkin, and Shiitake Soup Close Credit: Christopher Testani Prep Time: 15 mins Total Time: 2 hrs 50 mins Servings: 4 This deceptively simple recipe is inspired by flavors from around the world: from Vietnamese pho to a rustic French stew to the famous oxtail soups from the Caribbean. When the beef chuck or neck bones are fork-tender, you add the vegetables that won't need long to cook. Fresh basil and a splash of fish sauce are not to be skipped—the latter adds an exceptional hint of umami flavor. Directions Combine beef and 10 cups water in a pot. Bring to a boil, skimming any foam and impurities from surface. Add half of onion, 2 teaspoons salt, peppercorns, bay leaf, thyme, pumpkin peels, shiitake stems, and cabbage leaf. Gently boil over medium-low heat, partially covered, until meat is falling-off-the-bone tender, about 2 hours. Strain (if you want a clear broth, line a fine-mesh sieve with cheesecloth), reserving broth and beef and discarding remaining solids. Wipe pot clean. Return broth and beef to pot. Coarsely chop remaining onion half and transfer to pot, along with pumpkin and mushroom caps. Simmer over low heat until pumpkin is crisp-tender but still holding its shape, about 10 minutes. Stir in cabbage and basil sprig; simmer until cabbage is tender but still vibrant green, about 5 minutes more. Remove and discard basil. Stir in fish sauce and lime juice. Add more salt, fish sauce, and lime to taste, and serve topped with basil leaves. Cook's Notes Inexpensive marrow and collagen-rich cuts like beef chuck, neck bones, and shin bones are ideal in this stew. You can pick them out, shred the meat, and add it back before dining.The bones can be removed after straining and the meat shredded into bite-size pieces before it returns to the pot. For a heartier soup, stir in cooked rice or rice noodles to serve.