When I think about this Lotus Root and Pork Soup (莲藕排骨汤), a very happy childhood memory comes to mind. When I was little and living in Hubei, the lotus harvest was always such a festive event. The village would drain out some of the water in the town’s large lotus pond, causing the pond’s carp to jump and leap into the air in all the commotion.
The town’s men would all get in the water, using their hands and feet to feel around for lotus roots. When they found one, they’d pull it triumphantly out of the water, while the women and kids cheered them on. There were always many “ooh’s” and “ahh’s” when a particularly large lotus root would surface.
Around that time, when lotus roots were plentiful, I remember this special lotus root and pork soup being served often. It was a simple, nourishing, tasty soup that Hubei natives would love to treat their friends and special guests to, and it’s a recipe that I still love to make today.
I added seaweed to my version, but that’s totally optional. I do think it adds more flavor, and it’s also quite healthy! I also have a habit of adding dried goji berries to most of my soup recipes, which I learned from Bill’s mother. I once read somewhere that goji berries can improve your overall Qi (energy flow), and we all need that, right? A little boost couldn’t hurt!
Important Recipe Tips
Ok, here are some important basics to know when making this lotus root soup recipe:
- Don’t add any additional water during the cooking process. If you must, add boiling water only.
- Whenever possible, use meat on the bone. We used pork ribs for this recipe, but you could also use pork neck bones.
- Soup is like stew…it always tastes better the 2nd day. Bill strongly believes that the last bowl of soup always tastes the best! With that in mind, feel free to prepare this soup a day in advance if you have the time.
- If you can’t find fresh lotus roots, you can substitute dried lotus roots. You’ll just have to rehydrate them first.
- I like to serve the soup with light soy sauce as a dipping sauce for the pork and lotus roots. I’ll let you in on a secret if you don’t know this already: pork (on the bone) and light soy sauce is a combination made in heaven.
Recipe Instructions
Soak the pork ribs or neck bones in cold water for an hour. Then rinse thoroughly, drain, and set aside. Boil a large pot of water, and add the pork bones to blanch. Once the water is boiling again, let it cook for 1 more minute. Turn off the heat, drain, and wash the pork bones clean. This process will give you a really clear (rather than cloudy) soup.
If you want to include re-hydrated seaweed, you can buy dried seaweed (kelp/kombu) or rehydrated seaweed at your Asian supermarket. Just try to avoid seaweed “knots,” as they tend to be a bit sandy. It takes at least 3 hours to rehydrate dried seaweed kelp, so you can soak it the night before. Once soaked, simply wash the seaweed in a basin of water until the water is completely clear. Then drain, and it’s ready to add to the pot.
Right before you’re ready to start the soup, peel the lotus root and cut it into large chunks (If you do this too early, the lotus root will oxidize, similar to a potato. So hold off until you’re about to start cooking).
To start the lotus root soup, add all the prepared ingredients to a stock pot or earthen pot: the (blanched) pork, seaweed/kelp, lotus root, ginger, dried goji berries (if using), and cold water.
Bring it to boil, and then immediately turn it to down to a slow simmer. Cover and let it simmer for at least 4 hours…the longer the better. Reheating it the next day will make it even more flavorful. Add salt to taste, and serve with chopped scallion on top.
Lotus Root & Pork Soup
Ingredients
- 2 pounds pork ribs or pork neck bones (900g)
- 1 cup re-hydrated seaweed/kelp (optional)
- 1 pound lotus root (450g)
- 4 slices ginger
- 1 tablespoon dried goji berries (optional)
- 12 cups cold water
- salt (to taste)
- 1 scallion (finely chopped)
Instructions
- Soak the pork ribs or neck bones in cold water for an hour. Then rinse thoroughly, drain, and set aside. Boil a large pot of water, and add the pork bones to blanch. Once the water is boiling again, let it cook for 1 more minute. Turn off the heat, drain, and wash the pork bones clean. This process will give you a really clear (rather than cloudy) soup.
- If you want to include seaweed, you can buy dried seaweed (kelp/kombu) or rehydrated seaweed at your Asian supermarket. Just try to avoid seaweed "knots," as they tend to be a bit sandy. It takes at least 3 hours to rehydrate dried seaweed, so you can soak it the night before. Once soaked, simply wash the seaweed in a basin of water until the water is completely clear. Then drain, and it's ready to add to the pot.
- Right before you're ready to start the soup, peel the lotus root and cut it into large chunks (If you do this too early, the lotus root will oxidize, similar to a potato. So hold off until you're about to start cooking).
- To start the soup, add all the prepared ingredients to a stock pot: the (blanched) pork, seaweed, lotus root, ginger, goji berries and cold water. Bring it to boil, and then immediately turn it to down to a slow simmer. Cover and let it simmer for at least 4 hours...the longer the better. Reheating it the next day will make it even more flavorful. Add salt to taste, and serve with chopped scallion on top.
nutrition facts
Everything was fine but next time I’m not adding seaweed, it just fell apart and made it more paste like than soup
Hi Chas, are you sure you used seaweed? Seaweed does not fall apart.
Really simple and delicious – wow. Was a hit for mid autumn festival dinner
How lovely!
Hi, just made this soup and it was delicious! If I wanted to have more meat for a heartier soup, what cut of pork would you recommend I add? I love the tenderness of the meat on the rib and neck bones but would like more without adding too much bones. Thanks!
Hi Mon, meat on the bone is best for soups, so I’d just add more meaty bones for a heartier soup.
Hi, I have a question… I have a slow cooker. Do you think I could put it in there, on low mode overnight to cook? I love this recipe, it looks delicious, so I can’t wait to try it out… I just need to prepare everything.. Thanks for the answer in advance!
Hi Tijana, you can definitely use your slow cooker for simmering the soup.
Hi! I tried making the soup by following the recipe but when i took it out of the fridge, there was a lot of fat chunks that appeared when its cold. Did i do something wrong/is there something i could do to fix it and prevent it in the future?
Hi Melissa, that’s totally normal from the fat in the pork that solidifies when cold. That is the best time to use a strainer to scoop out and discard the fat solids/chunks and your soup will be oil/grease free after you heat it up again. Happy cooking!
This recipe is so good and almost offensively easy given how much reward there is for so little effort. These days I just throw all the ingredients into my pressure cooker and leave it alone for an hour and a half, and then I come back to such a comforting, nourishing soup. Sometimes I put all the meat and veggies away and just pour the liquid in a mug and have it like that. Reminds me of going to my grandparents’ for dinner as a child, and they always had a soup that tasted like this for everyone to drink.
Hi Gail, Chinese soups somehow feel/taste so nourishing, I think it’s their strong association with our home, our parents and our grandparents :-)