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Lian'ou paigu tang
Pork rib and lotus root soup
Lián'ǒu páigǔ tāng (莲藕排骨汤): Hubei pork ribs and lotus root slow-simmered into a clear, comforting soup
In Wuhan, the city of a hundred lakes, lotus root is dug from the mud in autumn, and every family simmers it for hours with pork ribs in a clay pot until the root turns pinkish and starchy and the broth is sweet and clear. This is the soup that welcomes home students at the winter holidays and comforts the sick. It is a pork dish, and it is seasoned only with salt, white pepper and ginger, so it is gluten free. A bowl is about 280 kcal. The most common mistake is using crisp, thin-holed lotus root, which stays crunchy; for soup, choose the fat, short sections with few large holes, which turn powdery and soft. Chef's tip: blanch the ribs and rinse them before simmering; the broth stays clear and clean-tasting.
- Total time
- 135 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ lb pork spare ribscut into 4 cm pieces
- 1 ⅓ lb lotus rootthe fat, short sections; peeled, cut into chunks
- 4 fresh gingerslices
- 10 ½ cups water
- 6 dried red dates (jujubes) (optional)
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground white pepper
- 2 spring onionssliced
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Put 1 ¾ lb pork spare ribs in a pot of cold water, bring to the boil and boil for 3 minutes, until grey foam rises. Drain and rinse each piece under warm water.
8 minStep 2: Put the ribs, 4 fresh ginger and 10 ½ cups water in a clean heavy pot or clay pot. Bring to the boil, then simmer partly covered on a low heat for 45 minutes.
45 minStep 3: Add 1 ⅓ lb lotus root and 6 dried red dates (jujubes) and simmer for 1 hour more, until the lotus root is soft and slightly powdery when bitten and the meat is falling from the bones.
60 minStep 4: Season with 1 ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp ground white pepper, scatter with 2 spring onions and serve.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 280 kcal
- Protein
- 18 g
- Carbs
- 16 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does lian'ou paigu tang take?
- About 135 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 120 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of fresh ginger?
- ¼ tsp ground ginger per tbsp fresh (add it with the spices).
- What can I use instead of spring onions?
- Chives, or a little finely sliced onion.
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