Lotus Root, Black Bean and Dried Octopus Pork Rib Soup

Why people make this soup

It is very common for new mothers to notice more hair than usual on the pillow or in the shower drain in the weeks after giving birth. According to Cantonese food therapy, childbirth draws heavily on the body’s reserves of blood and essence (jing), and disrupted sleep from night feeds makes the situation worse — the body simply does not have enough nourishment left over to sustain a full head of hair. This soup pairs lotus root (cooling and blood-building) with green-kernel black beans (traditionally kidney-tonifying and hair-darkening) and dried octopus (rich in protein and associated with nourishing liver blood) to create a pot that is both delicious and genuinely sustaining. The combination is valued not only by postpartum mothers but by younger and middle-aged people who notice premature greying.

Method

1. Peel the lotus root, cut into chunks, and rinse well.
2. Soak and rinse the black beans.
3. Remove the pits from the red dates.
4. Blanch the pork ribs and dried octopus briefly in boiling water; drain and discard the water.
5. Place all ingredients in a pot with 2.4–2.7 L of water.
6. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a steady simmer for 1.5 hours, until the liquid reduces to about 1.2 L.
7. Serve the soup with the solid ingredients.

Nourilo’s Tips

• This soup also has a traditional reputation for supporting milk production in breastfeeding mothers. Add 4–5 dried figs (wu hua guo) to further enhance this effect.
• It is equally beneficial for younger and middle-aged people with hair loss or premature greying — not just new mothers.
• If eczema is a concern, replace the octopus with 2–3 dried scallops.
• To avoid making the soup too warming, pair lotus root with mung beans and honey dates.