Hangover Soup, Yakamein might be just the recipe for New Year’s Day

New Orleans Yakamein: The Ultimate Hangover Cure

Recently, I had the delightful opportunity to step into Chef Johnny’s kitchen. While the smell of simmering broth wafted through the air, Chef Johnny was hard at work crafting the “Hang Over Soup”, better known to New Orleans locals as Yakamein. A hearty blend of noodles, flavorful broth, and choice meats, this dish is both a comfort food and a remedy after a night out.

Ingredients for Yakamein:

• 1 package (8oz) spaghetti
• 2 quarts chicken or beef stock
• 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
• A dash each of soy sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, and Tabasco Sauce
• Seaweed strands (optional, but a delightful addition)
• 2 cups of cooked meat of your choice (beef, chicken, pork, shrimp) – chopped
• 3 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and halved lengthwise
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped
• 1 bunch spinach, chopped
• Mushrooms (to taste)

Preparing the Soup:

1. Begin by cooking the spaghetti according to the package instructions.
2. In a pot, sauté the mushrooms with a splash of sesame oil. Once they’ve softened a bit, add your choice of meat, letting it sear and mingle with the flavors.
3. Pour in your preferred stock (chicken or beef) and add a touch of the leftover pasta water. For those wanting a deeper flavor, a hint of stout beer would be an exciting addition here.
4. Stir in the Cajun seasoning, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and Tabasco sauce. For those who like a bit more kick, you can add tomato or chili paste at this point. Bring the mixture to a boil and then let it simmer.
5. As your broth simmers, toss in the chopped spinach and, if desired, seaweed strands. These will give a fresh garnish and an additional layer of flavor to your broth.

Presenting Your Yakamein:

For serving, start by placing a portion of spaghetti in each bowl. Top it with a slice of hard-boiled egg, sprinklings of onion, and your choice of chopped meat. Pour over the piping hot broth, ensuring it envelops the ingredients, and give it a gentle stir.

And voilà! You have the classic New Orleans Yakamein ready to warm your soul. Whether it’s to cure a hangover or just to enjoy a flavorful dish, Yakamein never disappoints. For a deeper dive into Yakamein click here.