Vegetables and Dried Octopus with Mung Beans Soup
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.
What ingredients are required?
1 one-foot long lotus root, cut into bite size
1 whole dried octopus, sliced
100 g of mung beans
3 large fresh carrots, sliced
3 large fresh corn, quartered
2 L of water
How do I prepare it?
- Soak dried octopus in cold water for about 30 minutes
- Boil your soup water
- Slice octopus in slices or quartered
- Wash and cut lotus root, carrots and corn
- Add all the ingredients into your boiling soup water
- Boil on high for thirty minutes and reduce to medium boil for another hour
- Serve and enjoy!
Any benefits?
- Excellent Chinese soup for Spring in absorbing wetness from the body
- This soup is an excellent source of protein and low in fat
- No salt required as the octopus already provides enough sodium
- Octopus is rich in calcium, phosphorous, and iron
- Dried Octopus aids in the prevention of anemia, relieves fatigue and restores eyesight and improves liver functions
Any precautions?
- Be sure to purchase dried Chinese products from a reputable source
- Sometimes the octopus is really salty, so if you want to reduce the saltiness, soak in warm water for a few hours
- Dried octopus is high in cholesterol
- People who are allergic to shellfish may be allergic to octopus