Lotus Root Soups

Lotus Root Soups

Lotus root (莲藕) is the rhizome of the nelumbo, also know as the Egyptian lotus, Indian lotus or sacred lotus. It is an aquatic herbal plant with peltate leaves borne above and floating on the surface of the water. The edible pale yellow rhizome is submerged in mud.

It has been eaten as food for thousands of years. In the medicinal aspect, lotus roots purity the blood. The young rhizome when harvested for eating, tastes like artichokes. The older ones are considered diuretic and are harvested all year round. When sliced transversely for use in soups in Chinese cooking, each piece will see many holes in it.

(1) Lotus root soup with octopus (serves 4 – 6 persons)

(Lotus roots purify the blood & dried octopus improves blood circulation)

Ingredients:

1 lotus root, washed well & cut into circular slices
200g Meat Bones, scalded in boiling water for 3 minutes
2 slices of old ginger
8 red dates (de-stoned)
2 pieces dried octopus, washed

Method (1) – using the crockpot:

• Put all ingredients into a crockpot, fill ¾ full with HOT water.
• Boil for 2 hours at medium heat.
• Add light soy sauce (optional)

Method (2) – using the convention pot:

• Put all ingredients into a deep pot, fill in 6 bowls of HOT water.
• Bring to boil and reduce to low heat. Boil for 4 hours.
• Add light soy sauce (optional)

(2) Lotus root soup with pork ribs (serves 1 – for confinement mothers)

Ingredients:

1 lotus root, washed well & cut into circular slices
300g pork ribs (preferably the pig’s tail portion), scalded in boiling water for 3 minutes
20 red dates (de-stoned)

Method:

• Put all ingredients into a deep pot, fill in 4 bowls of HOT water.
• Bring to boil and reduce to low heat. Boil for about 5 - 6 hours until the soup is about one bowl for consumption.

(The pork ribs can also be eaten, with the red dates, the meat taste sweet.)

(3) Lotus root with chicken and sweet potato soup (serves 2 – 4 people)

Ingredients:

Half lotus root, washed well & cut into circular slices
Half a spring chicken (chopped into smaller chunks), scalded in boiling water for 3 minutes

2 pieces sweet potatoes (the yellow/orange variety, cut into thick slices)

5 - 6 red dates (cleaned and soaked)

1 large onion (bashed)
1 knob ginger (bashed)

Method (1) – using the crockpot:

• Put all ingredients into a crockpot, fill ¾ full with HOT water.
• Boil for 1 hours at high heat.
• Add light soy sauce (optional)

Method (2) – using the convention pot:

• Put all ingredients into a deep pot, fill in 5 bowls of HOT water.
• Bring to boil and reduce to low heat. Boil for 2 hours.
• Add light soy sauce (optional)

Singapore parents, do try the above recipes out, especially (1) and (3). For recipe (2), it is more suitable for confinement mothers and older women folks. Men, avoid this.