Cambodian Seaweed Soup

The Ultimate Comfort Bowl

Sometimes you do not need heavy spices or complicated cooking methods to create something deeply satisfying. Sngor Ji Chhay - ស្ងោរជីឆាយ (Seaweed Soup) is the perfect example of Cambodian home cooking at its best.

The beauty of this soup lies in its clean, umami-rich broth. The natural sweetness of the shrimp, the savory bite of the minced pork, and the earthy seaweed come together in less than 30 minutes. It’s light on the stomach but incredibly rich in flavor.

Pork, shrimp, tofu, and seaweed prepped for soup

The Core Ingredients

100g (១ខាំ) Minced Pork (សាច់ជ្រូកចិញ្ច្រាំ) *or pork bones/meatballs
200g (២ ខាំ) Shrimp (បង្គា), peeled *keep the heads!
100g (១ ខាំ) Straw Mushrooms (ផ្សិតចំបើង)
1 block Soft Tofu (តៅហ៊ូ), cubed
1 whole Egg (ពងមាន់)
1 handful Dried Seaweed / Ji Chhay (ជីឆាយ)
2 cloves Garlic, minced

Seasonings

Cooking Oil
1 Teaspoon Hloung Chicken Powder (ម្សៅស៊ុប)
1 Teaspoon Salt (អំបិល)
1 Tablespoon Oyster Sauce (ប្រេងខ្យង)
1 Tablespoon Fish Sauce (ទឹកត្រី)

How to Make It

A simple step-by-step guide to a perfectly clear broth.

Aromatics & Base Flavor

Heat a little cooking oil in a pot. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant. Toss in your minced pork (or pork bones/meatballs) along with the prawn heads. Sautéing the prawn heads releases a rich, savory oil that builds an incredibly flavorful base for the soup.

Season & Simmer

Directly into the pot with the meat, stir in the salt, Hloung Chicken Powder, and Oyster Sauce to coat the ingredients. Pour in your water to create the soup base and bring everything to a gentle simmer.

Shrimp and mushrooms added to the clear broth

Toppings & Finish with Seaweed

Once the water reaches a rolling boil, add the peeled shrimp, straw mushrooms, and fish sauce. Gently slide in the cut soft tofu so it doesn't break. Crack an egg into the soup. Once everything is fully cooked through, top the soup with the dried seaweed (Ji Chhay) last, as it softens very quickly in the residual heat. Serve immediately alongside hot steamed rice!