Lotus Root, Black Bean and Dried Octopus Pork Rib Soup

Why people make this soup

It is very common for new mothers to notice more hair than usual on the pillow or in the shower drain in the weeks after giving birth. According to Cantonese food therapy, childbirth draws heavily on the body’s reserves of blood and essence (jing), and disrupted sleep from night feeds makes the situation worse — the body simply does not have enough nourishment left over to sustain a full head of hair. This soup pairs lotus root (cooling and blood-building) with green-kernel black beans (traditionally kidney-tonifying and hair-darkening) and dried octopus (rich in protein and associated with nourishing liver blood) to create a pot that is both delicious and genuinely sustaining. The combination is valued not only by postpartum mothers but by younger and middle-aged people who notice premature greying.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• New mothers experiencing postpartum hair thinning or pallor; also suitable for breastfeeding mothers as it is traditionally associated with supporting milk production.
• Pregnant women may also drink this soup.
• People with hair loss or early greying linked to blood deficiency.
• Those with a heat-prone constitution or active skin disease should drink less; if skin eczema is present, simply omit the octopus and add 2–3 dried scallops (yao zhu) instead.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Lotus root (lian ou): Cooling and blood-nourishing; high in iron and vitamin C; associated with stopping bleeding, clearing heat, and supporting healthy skin.
• Green-kernel black beans (qing ren hei dou): The green embryo inside distinguishes these from ordinary black soybeans; in traditional practice they are associated with tonifying the kidneys, darkening hair, and supporting the liver.
• Dried octopus (zhang yu): High in protein and minerals; traditionally associated with nourishing liver blood and supporting milk production.
• Red dates (hong zao): Classic blood-building tonic; adds natural sweetness to the broth.
• Pork ribs (pai gu): Provides body and protein; the bones contribute calcium and marrow to the broth.

Ingredients (4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Lotus root	~600 g	Peeled and cut into chunks
Green-kernel black beans	~37 g	Soaked and rinsed
Dried octopus	~75 g	Rinsed and blanched
Fresh ginger	2 slices
Red dates, pitted	5 pieces
Pork ribs	~300 g	Blanched to remove impurities

Method

1. Peel the lotus root, cut into chunks, and rinse well.
2. Soak and rinse the black beans.
3. Remove the pits from the red dates.
4. Blanch the pork ribs and dried octopus briefly in boiling water; drain and discard the water.
5. Place all ingredients in a pot with 8–9 bowls of water.
6. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a steady simmer for 1.5 hours, until the liquid reduces to about 4 bowls.
7. Serve the soup with the solid ingredients.

Bro Niu’s tips

• This soup also has a traditional reputation for supporting milk production in breastfeeding mothers. Add 4–5 dried figs (wu hua guo) to further enhance this effect.
• It is equally beneficial for younger and middle-aged people with hair loss or premature greying — not just new mothers.
• If eczema is a concern, replace the octopus with 2–3 dried scallops.
• To avoid making the soup too warming, pair lotus root with mung beans and honey dates.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (new mother, reader): Can I add something to this soup for a stronger milk-producing effect? Bro Niu: Add 4 or 5 dried figs — they are a classic for supporting milk supply.

• Q (karenkk, reader): It has been a year and a half since I gave birth and I am still losing a lot of hair — I only have half the volume I had before. Bro Niu: Try looking for a ready-made He Shou Wu walnut black sesame blend at the supermarket; dissolve one sachet in water every day. Two boxes taken consistently may help.

• Q (LL, reader): I have eczema — is this soup suitable for me? Bro Niu: Just leave out the octopus and replace it with 2–3 dried scallops, or simply omit it altogether. The rest of the soup is fine.

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Published May 16, 2020 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.