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I have been eating a lot since the holiday season and last week I just wanted to have something simple and light for the next few days. Making a soup would be a great idea since I love soup. Having one big bowl of soup would be satisfying and replacing as my regular meals. Thus, I was able to cut down my appetite.

As usual, slow-cooked soup (老火湯) was what in my mind and this time I’ve prepared the lotus root soup (莲藕湯). Lotus root is the root portion of the lotus plant and it is believed to be rich in dietary fiber and vitamin C. So far, I only know how to use it for soup making and stir-frying.

The essential ingredients for this soup are lotus roots and pork ribs but I also added the raw peanuts into the soup. For your information, the lotus roots are crunchy and solid even after long hours of cooking and they do not have a strong flavor. You can always adjust the quantum in the ingredients based on your own preference.

Ingredients:
1/2 lb baby back rib or rib (cut into chunks)
1/2 lb pork loin (cut into cubes)
2 lotus roots (sliced)
2 handful raw peanuts
10 red dates (红枣)
1 handful goji berries
2 ½ gallons water
Salt to taste

Serve size: 6-8 people

Cooking method:

1. Fill the big pot with the water and boil it with high heat.
2. Blanch the ribs and loin in another pot with boiling water for few minutes until the scum has come out. This will give you a clear soup.
3. Remove them from the pot and rinse the ribs and pork with cold water before putting them into the big pot.
4. Add lotus roots, raw peanuts, red dates and goji berries into the pot right after the ribs.
5. Cover and simmer over medium heat for 2-3 hours.
6. Add in salt to taste.

Serves hot.