Lotus Root, Chestnut and Red Date Pork Rib Soup

Why people make this soup

Confinement-month soups do not have to lean on strong, warming tonic herbs — natural everyday ingredients can work just as nicely. This is a simple lotus-root soup I like to share: the ingredients are easy to find, the flavour is lovely, and it is traditionally enjoyed by new mothers who have lost a lot of blood during childbirth, feel low on energy, or tire easily. Gentle, clear and comforting, it is something the whole family can sit down to.

Method

1. Peel and chunk the lotus root; remove the skins from the chestnuts; pit the red dates; blanch the pork ribs.
2. Put everything into a pot with 2.4 L of water.
3. Cook for about 1.5 hours, reducing to about 1.2 L.
4. Serve, eating the soup together with the ingredients.

Nourilo’s Tips

This soup is clear, fragrant and tasty, traditionally said to nourish the blood, support the spleen, and strengthen the kidneys and bones. New mothers who drink it often may find it nourishing and calming, and it is suitable for the whole family, old and young.