Lotus Root Soup with Pork Ribs

Ingredients

• 300 g of meaty pork bones (chopped into pieces)
• 45o g lotus root (or 1 medium sized section of lotus root)
• 2 small corn-cobs

Method

1. Rinse and drain the meat. Add 2 heaped teaspoons of salt to marinate them. I liken this step to massaging the meat.
2. Fill a pot with 2.5 liters of water.
3. Boil some water in another smaller pot or saucepan (enough water to cover the meat).
4. Parboil the meat in the boiling water. This has the effect of cleaning the meat and getting rid of any smell. Once the meat is partially cooked, transfer the meat to the larger pot.
5. Wash and cut lotus root into slices.
   
6. Wash and cut corn-cobs into chunks.
   
7. Add the lotus root and corn-cobs into the pot with the meat. Bring the water to boil before lowering the fire. Let the soup simmer for 2 to 3 hours before serving.

This soup can be prepared in advanced if you are busy. Usually the soup tastes better the longer it is cooked. Just make sure there is sufficient water in the beginning as you do not want to dilute the soup by adding more water.

Drinking lotus root soup is believed to promote the production of blood and great for people who are anemic.