Soups
Lotus Root, Dried Octopus and Red Kidney Bean Pork Rib Soup
Traditionally associated with nourishing the blood and supporting a healthy complexion
Why people make this soup
Lotus root is one of those four-season staples that suits everyone, young or old. Paired with dried octopus it turns deeply savory and aromatic, and it has long been a favorite food-therapy soup for nursing mothers. Bro Niu recommends this lotus-root, octopus and red-kidney-bean version as a nourishing, year-round pot that is traditionally associated with building the blood and supporting a bright complexion.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits men, women, the elderly and children; traditionally favored by new mothers for postpartum blood support and for milk
- A reader in early pregnancy asked and Bro Niu confirmed it can be enjoyed in early pregnancy
- People with diabetes: lotus root is starchy — swap the red dates for date palm (jujube/椰枣) as Bro Niu suggests, and enjoy mindfully
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Lotus root (lian ou): traditionally said to nourish yin and build blood; the knotty node in the middle is especially valued, and is sometimes simmered with imperata root to help settle minor nosebleeds
- Dried octopus (zhang yu): lends rich umami and is a classic partner for lotus root in nourishing soups
- Red kidney beans and red-skin peanuts (hong yao dou, hua sheng): traditionally associated with supporting the blood
- Red dates and ginger (hong zao, sheng jiang): round out and warm the soup
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lotus root (lian ou) | ~450 g (12 liang) | Peeled, cut into chunks |
| Dried octopus (zhang yu gan) | ~75 g (2 liang) | Rinsed, cut open |
| Red kidney beans (hong yao dou) | ~38 g (1 liang) | Soaked and rinsed |
| Red-skin peanuts (hua sheng) | ~38 g (1 liang) | Soaked and rinsed |
| Red dates (hong zao) | 5 | Pitted; diabetics swap for date palm |
| Fresh ginger (sheng jiang) | 3 slices | |
| Pork ribs (pai gu) | ~300 g | Blanched |
Method
- Peel the lotus root, rinse and cut into chunks.
- Rinse the dried octopus and cut it open; soak and rinse the kidney beans and peanuts; pit the red dates.
- Blanch the pork ribs and the octopus together.
- Put everything in a pot with 9 bowls of water and simmer 2 hours down to 4 bowls.
- Serve the soup together with the ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
Lotus root dislikes iron, so use a clay, ceramic or Corningware pot rather than a bare metal one. This soup suits the whole family and is traditionally valued for postpartum blood deficiency and low milk supply, as well as for men feeling run-down.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Julie): I have diabetes and shouldn’t eat lotus root — can I still drink this soup? Bro Niu: You can drink the lotus-root soup; just swap the red dates for date palm (jujube).
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Q (Cherry): An elderly relative avoids beans for fear of raising uric acid — what can replace them? Bro Niu: Adzuki beans (chi xiao dou) help with urination and uric acid, so use them in place of the other beans.
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Q (Mrs. Wu): You said not to use an iron pot for lotus root — is a non-stick pan also not ideal? Bro Niu: It’s best to avoid metal pots. Non-stick pans are usually aluminum with a coating; with the coating intact they should be okay for lotus-root soup, but clay, ceramic or Corningware pots are still best.
Published August 10, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
