Soup Name: Beetroot Vegetables with Pork Ribs Soup
Traditional Chinese Name: 紅菜頭集菜湯 (hóng cài tóu jí cài tāng)
Introduction:
It’s Chinese New Year’s and what better time to make a blood red soup than this special holiday? The red beet is as red as a vegetable as you can get and mixed with other hearty vegetables, makes for a meal in itself! Use any type of pork meat and boil it for the red beets to seep out its rich, vibrant red. I forewarned the children that this would be a more “unique” soup, but after one sip, they loved it! It’s also a very neutral soup ideal for the whole family.
Amount serves: 6-8 soup bowls
What Ingredients are required?
1 pound of fresh pork ribs 2 large beetroots, cut into large cubes 2 large carrots, sliced 1 white onion, halved 1 celery stalk, sliced 2 fresh tomatoes, quartered 15 dried longans
2 L of water
How do I prepare it?
In a small pot, boil some water to blanch your pork ribs
Blanch the ribs in boiling water for about 5 minutes, drain and set aside (some people rinse the pork ribs with warm water to rinse away the brown foam that usually surfaces when blanching pork)
In your soup pot, start boiling the water
Prepare all your vegetables
When the water boils, add all the vegetables and the blanched pork and longans together
Boil on high for 30 minutes and reduce to a medium simmer for another 1.5 hours (or use a thermal pot)
Serve and enjoy!
Any benefits?
Excellent source of Vitamin C and antioxidants
Eats like a meal with plenty of vegetables (and great source of fiber)
Excellent in supporting blood supplement and helps lower blood pressure (because the beetroot contains nitrates which help open the blood vessels and helps with circulation)
Any precautions?
Consumption of beetroot may turn your urine or stool slightly reddish, there is nothing to fear in this as it is harmless. Just let it pass through your system.
The colour of the beetroot will stain your hands, so either wear gloves or use some lemon juice to help remove
Soup Name: Vegetables and Dried Octopus with Mung Beans Soup
Traditional Chinese Name: 雜菜綠豆章魚湯 (Zá cài lǜ dòu zhāng yú tāng)
Introduction:
When it rains, the Chinese like using beans to absorb moisture from the body. Mung beans, dried beans, red beans, green beans, yellow beans, big beans and little beans – any type of beans will do really! The octopus is known to be a heaty ingredient and therefore is balanced with the cooler mung beans. This combination with lotus root is a delicious Spring Chinese soup ideal for the whole family. I’ve also added a variety of vegetables to sweeten it and dilute the unique taste of the octopus that my children pick up on. On top of this, it gives you a hearty soup that you can eat as a meal or additional dishes to your meal – like the corn.
This is basically vegetables and water, but to think that a combination of the right vegetables can be so tasty! You really don’t need to add any additives such as salt, sugar or meat because it really is delicious as it is. Consider using a variety of vegetables as well, such as red beets (which I will try as a recommendation from a friend), potatoes, yams, Chinese yams and more. This soup is ideal for any age group, condition and individual!
What ingredients are required?
3 fresh carrots, cut into large pieces 2 fresh corn, cut into large pieces 1 whole Japanese pumpkin, largely sliced with skin 3 whole red onions, sliced 2 fresh sweet potato, cut into large pieces 3 fresh tomatoes, cored and quartered 2 L of water
How do I prepare it?
Rinse and prepare all vegetables and set aside
Begin to boil your soup water
When soup water boils, add all the ingredients together
Boil on high for an hour
Serve and enjoy! NO SALT NECESSARY!
Any benefits?
Oil free soup
Excellent source of protein and vitamins (especially beta-carotene)
Easy to make soup
Ingredients are readily accessible and available in most supermarkets
Any precautions?
Serve soup with tomatoes to children one year and older
