Soup Name: Papaya Pork Soup
Chinese Name: 木瓜湯 (mù gua tāng)
Introduction:
Putting fruit into Chinese soups adds a wonderful sweetness and texture. Papaya is commonly used in either fish or pork-based soups. This is a simple papaya pork soup that is quick and simple to make and great for children. My own kids love to eat the soft and warm papaya fruit directly from the soup so this has become a common, nutritious soup we can make quickly and know they will enjoy.
What Ingredients are required?
- 1 pound fresh pork shank
- 2 large fresh papaya
- 1 tablespoon of apricot kernels
- 5-6 dried scallops (conpoys)
- 2 L of water
- 1 teaspoon of salt (to marinate the pork)
How do I prepare it?
- Soak the apricot kernels and dried scallops in room temperature water for 30 minutes
- Peel and remove the seeds from the papaya and cut into large cubes
- Boil your soup water
- Blanch pork shank in a separate pot of boiling water
- Add in the above ingredients and bring to a boil
- Simmer for at least one hour until pork if soft
- Serve and enjoy!
Any benefits?
- High in vitamin C and folate (from the papayas)
- Neutral soup that is ideal for children and toddlers
- Simple to make
Thank you for the recipes. I try to boil more soup for our baby and this is really helpful.
I just have one question though. I thought vitamin C is destroyed once it’s boiled. The papaya will still have vitamin C after 1 hour of boiling?
Dear weon, Vitamin C is destroyed by heat over 70 degrees Celcius, but only destroyed in the food and into the water (soup water). It is a water soluble vitamin and will get distributed to the soup instead, so it is recommended to serve Vitamin C foods with the water in which they are cooked. In the case of soups, it actually works! I hope this answers your question and thank you! Lisa