Beef Soup / Sopi di Karni

Name: Beef Soup / Sopi di Karni (Curaçao Stew)
Cuisine: Curaçao/Aruba/Bonaire
Ingredients: 1 lb of beef; 3 pieces bone marrow,; 1 lemon,; 8 cups of water,; 6 beef bouillon,; 1 chopped onion,; 5-6 sprigs of celery,; 1/2 chopped bell pepper,; 2 bay leaves,; 3 chopped carrots,; 2 cobs of corn ( each cut into 6 pieces),; 3 mid-sized potatoes,; 1 Surinam Yellow Pepper (Madame Jeanette),; 2/3 lb pumpkin,; 1 half ripe plantain,; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning,; 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme,; 1/2 teaspoon Goya Complete seasoning,; 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder,; 1/4 lb vermicelli,; pinch of turmeric or grounded annatto seeds (ruku); tomatoe paste

Jump to ingredients

Sopi di Karni is a traditional Antillean beef soup from Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire featuring tender beef, bone marrow, plantain, pumpkin and vermicelli in a seasoned broth finished with turmeric or annatto for color and depth.

More like this:🌍Curaçao/Aruba/Bonaire 🏷️Sopi 🏷️Soup 🏷️Beef 🏷️Baka Karni

Recipes A to Z·Creators A to Z·Cocktails·About·Privacy·Terms

🏷️

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From Antillean-eats · by Dee Dee Sambo

Ingredients

Check what you already have. We'll leave it off your shopping list.

1 lb of beef
3 pieces bone marrow,
1 lemon,
8 cups of water,
6 beef bouillon,
1 chopped onion,
5-6 sprigs of celery,
1/2 chopped bell pepper,
2 bay leaves,
3 chopped carrots,
2 cobs of corn ( each cut into 6 pieces),
3 mid-sized potatoes,
1 Surinam Yellow Pepper (Madame Jeanette),
2/3 lb pumpkin,
1 half ripe plantain,
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning,
3-4 sprigs fresh thyme,
1/2 teaspoon Goya Complete seasoning,
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder,
1/4 lb vermicelli,
pinch of turmeric or grounded annatto seeds (ruku)
tomatoe paste

22 Ingredients

CookOS may earn a commission from Instacart orders.

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
Wash the meat in a little water, plus the juice of one lemon.
2
bRING The meat, bone marrow and beef bouillon to boil in 8 cups of water.
3
Then cook on a medium heat.
4
This is important because otherwise the foam begins to interfere in the water.
5
Skim off foam and cook until the meat is almost cooked.
6
Peel the potatoes and the pumpkin, wash and cut into small cubes.
7
Peel the plantain and slice them in increments of 1/2 inch.
8
Add the onion, celery, bell pepper, bay leaf, carrot, corn on the cob, potatoes and yellow pepper and let them cook on medium-high heat for 5 minutes.
9
Add the pumpkin, plantain, Italian seasoning, fresh thyme, Complete Seasoning, cumin powder and the noodles and let it cook even about 15 minutes.
10
Give the soup a nice color to turmeric or annatto seeds.
11
Remove the yellow pepper and the bone marrow.
12
This soup can be served as a full meal with Funchi
13
Add a slice of lemon is to serve.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Skim foam from the broth after bringing meat and bouillon to boil—this keeps the soup clear and improves flavor.
Add delicate vegetables (noodles, plantain, pumpkin) in the final 15 minutes to prevent them from breaking down.
Squeeze fresh lemon over each bowl just before serving to brighten the rich, savory broth.
Use bone marrow for authentic depth; it infuses the broth with collagen and richness that regular meat cannot match.

Substitutions

Surinam Yellow Pepper (Madame Jeanette) → habanero or Scotch bonnet (for heat) or jalapeño (for milder flavor)
Vermicelli → small pasta shapes like ditalini or orzo (cooking time may vary slightly)
Annatto seeds (ruku) → turmeric (use same pinch for color; note: turmeric is earthier, annatto is subtler)
Pumpkin → butternut squash (similar texture and sweetness)

Storage & make-ahead

Cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days, or freeze up to 1 month. Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium heat, thinning with water if needed.

Common Questions

Can I substitute the Surinam Yellow Pepper (Madame Jeanette)?

Yes. Use a habanero or Scotch bonnet pepper for similar heat, or a regular jalapeño for milder flavor. Remove before serving as instructed.

How do I know when the meat is almost cooked?

The beef should be tender enough to break apart easily with a fork, typically 45–60 minutes at medium heat depending on cut and size.

What is annatto seeds (ruku) and where do I find it?

Annatto seeds are dried seeds from the achiote plant that add earthy color and mild flavor. Find them in Caribbean or Latin markets, or use turmeric as a substitute.