Soups
Lotus Root, Peanut and Pork Bone Soup
Traditionally nourishes the blood and supports a healthy complexion
Why people make this soup
A good bowl of soup on a cold day is one of the warmest gestures you can offer someone you care for. Many younger folks shy away from soups loaded with bitter herbs, so here is a gentle one built from ordinary seasonal produce. Lotus root, peanuts and red dates give a naturally sweet pot that is traditionally said to support the spleen, moisten the lungs, nourish the blood and brighten the complexion — especially welcome for anyone who looks pale or has little appetite.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits people who look pale, tire easily or have a poor appetite, and anyone wanting a mild, non-bitter nourishing soup in cold weather.
- This is a gentle everyday soup; if you have a specific health concern, please see a doctor.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Lotus root (lian ou): A widely available ingredient that is nourishing yet not cold in nature; traditionally valued for supporting the blood and the digestion.
- Red-skinned peanuts (hong yi hua sheng): The red skins are traditionally associated with nourishing the blood.
- Red dates (hong zao): Long used to nourish blood and add natural sweetness.
- Ginger (sheng jiang): Warms the stomach and helps dispel cold without needing any herbs.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lotus root | ~600 g | peeled, washed, cut into chunks |
| Red-skinned peanuts | ~38 g | soaked and rinsed |
| Red dates | 6 | pitted |
| Ginger | 3 slices | |
| Pork sternum bones | ~450 g | blanched |
Method
- Peel the lotus root, wash and cut into chunks. Soak and rinse the peanuts. Pit the red dates. Blanch the pork bones.
- Put everything into 9 bowls of water and simmer for 2 hours until reduced to about 4 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
To warm the stomach and dispel cold you do not always need herbs — a few slices of ginger and some red dates do the job nicely. Look for fresh, seasonal produce like lotus root, fresh Chinese yam, beetroot, pumpkin, potato, tomato and carrot; they are all nourishing and none of them are overly cold in nature.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Karen): Can I use beef bones instead? Bro Niu: You can use beef bones, but the soup may turn out a little more warming and drying — best on cold days.
- Q (Ann): Is the “red sugar” you mention the orange-coloured sugar sold by the bag in grocery shops, or the brown sugar found in supermarkets? Bro Niu: Both the orange-yellow sugar from the grocery and the brownish-red one from the supermarket count as red sugar; slab sugar (pian tang) is also a kind of red sugar.
Published November 26, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
