Lotus eaters

Recipe | Lotus root & pork ribs soup

Ingredients (serves 4):

500g lotus roots

300g pork ribs, cut into bite-sized pieces

2-3 dried Chinese red dates (jujubes)

1 tbsp wolfberries (goji berries)

Salt to taste

Method:

1. Scrub lotus root clean and chop off the tail ends. For a cleaner-looking soup, skin the root with a vegetable peeler. Cut the root into thin slices.

2. Blanch the pork ribs in boiling water for three minutes, drain and rinse clean.

3. Heat up another pot of water (about 1.5 liters) and add all the ingredients.

4. Bring to a rapid boil for about 5 min, then turn heat low to a gentle simmer. Leave to cook for about 90 minutes or until lotus roots are tender.

5. Season the soup to taste. Serve the soup, and plate the lotus root slices and pork ribs on a separate plate with some soy sauce for dipping.