Make Lotus Root Soup

Also known as 蓮藕 (Lián ǒu) in Mandarin, lotus soup has been served by Chinese families for generations. Lotus root is consumed in other Asian countries as well, known as bhe in some parts of India and Pakistan, and renkon in Japanese. The soup traditionally contains ginger, red Make Salted Stuffed Dates, as well as chicken bones and is a Chinese folk remedy for dispelling internal heat.

Ingredients

  • 2 lotus roots, frozen or fresh
  • 500 mL (1 pint) water
  • A few slices of ginger
  • 500 g (1 lb) chicken bones or pork ribs
  • 100 g (1/4 lb) of red dates

Steps

  1. Bring the water to a boil.
  2. Wash the lotus roots thoroughly, making sure there's no soil in the holes, then cut the lotus roots into slices (1cm or 0.4" thick). Discard the ends.
  3. Place the lotus roots, ginger, chicken bones and red dates into the boiling water.
  4. Allow the ingredients in the water to boil then simmer for about an hour. The soup may be simmered longer depending on how tasty you would like it to be (see Tips). A slow cooker can also be used.
  5. Serve the soup in a bowl. You may wish to add a pinch of pepper to the soup for extra flavour.

Tips

  • To get the most aromatic flavour of the soup, leave it to simmer overnight. The soup should be thicker and taste sweeter.
  • For a vegan variation, use mushroom stock instead of bones. Combine dry Chinese mushrooms or fresh shitake
  • mushrooms with celery or use mushroom seasoning like "Vegehop
  • ". Other gelatin alternatives include: carrageenan, agar-agar, fruit pectin, and locust bean gum.
  • Older lotus roots are better for soups.[1]

Warnings

  • Always wash the outside of a lotus root in clean water before peeling.
  • Lotus roots are grown in wet mud and should not be eaten raw because of the potential for parasite transmission. Only the tender root is sliced and eaten raw. The tough one as shown in the picture is only good for soup.[2]

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://thefeastcrusade.blogspot.com/2006/01/weekend-herb-blogging-16-lotus-roots.html
  2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera
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