Pork Bones and Lotus Root with Chestnuts Soup

by | Jan 19, 2009 | Winter Soups | 5 comments

Soup Name: Pork Bones and Arrowroot Soup

Traditional Chinese Name: 蓮藕栗子湯 (lián ou lì zi tāng)


Introduction:

This savory soup is sweet in taste and healthy to eat.  It’s rich in vitamins and fiber and is neutral for your body.  Caution may need to be taken with chestnuts as it can potentially be allergenic, although it is not very common.


What Ingredients are required?

1 pound of fresh pork bones
2 large lotus roots
3 large dried dates
5-6 pieces of dried scallop
10 – 15 chestnuts
1 teaspoon of salt (to marinate the pork bones)

How do I prepare it?

  1. Mix salt and pork bones together and let sit in a bag for at least an hour (best overnight)
  2. Wash the pork bones thoroughly in cool running water
  3. Start boiling your water soup and add the dried dates and conpoys
  4. In a separate pot, blanch the pork bones and strain it to remove any dirt and debris from the blanching
  5. Add the pork bones and chopped lotus root to the boiling water of your soup
  6. In a separate pot, boil the chestnuts for 5 minutes
  7. Strain and immediately peel the shell and outer skin
  8. Put the peeled and boiled chestnuts into your boiling soup
  9. Boil together for at least 60-90 minutes on high heat.  The longer you boil it, the tastier the soup.  It is best eaten when the pork is falling off the bones.

Any benefits?

  • This soup is high in fiber and is good for muscles, nerves and veinous system

Any precautions?

  • The longer you boil this soup, the tastier it gets, but that also means the chestnuts will begin to disintegrate.  If boiled too long, the chestnuts will thicken the soup and its remnants will sink to the bottom.