Cherry & Dennis Recipes
Apple Pear Lean Pork Soup
蘋果雪梨瘦肉湯
Recipe overview
Apple Pear Lean Pork Soup is a common clear and naturally sweet Hong Kong family soup. It is made with apples, pears, lean pork, dried figs, and sweet and bitter almonds. It is suitable for children and elderly family members. The key is to wash and core the fruits, blanch the lean pork to remove blood and foam, and simmer over medium-low heat. The finished soup should be clear and lightly golden, not oily or cloudy.
01
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 apples
- 2 pears
- 350g lean pork
- 4 dried figs
- 1 tablespoon sweet and bitter almonds
- 1 honey date
- 2 slices ginger
- 1800ml water
- A little salt
Seasoning
- 1/3 teaspoon salt or adjust to family taste
02
Tools
- Small pot
- Chopping board
- Knife
- Soup ladle
- Bowls
- Slotted spoon
- Measuring cup
03
Steps
Step 1
Prepare the ingredients
Prepare apples, pears, lean pork, dried figs, almonds, honey date, and ginger slices first. The ingredients are simple, but check that the fruits are fresh.
Step 2
Rinse dried ingredients
Rinse dried figs, almonds, and honey date under clean water, soak for 5 minutes, then drain. Do not put dried ingredients straight into the soup without rinsing.
Step 3
Cut lean pork
Rinse the lean pork and cut it into large pieces. Do not cut too small, so the meat stays whole and the soup remains clear.
Step 4
Blanch lean pork
Bring water to a boil in a small pot. Add lean pork and ginger slices, then blanch for 2-3 minutes to release blood and foam.
Step 5
Rinse blanched pork
Lift out the pork and rinse off surface foam with clean water. This makes the soup clearer and reduces meaty smell.
Step 6
Wash apples and pears
Wash apples and pears thoroughly. Gently brush the skin if needed. If the family does not like skin, peel the fruits.
Step 7
Cut and core fruits
Cut apples and pears into large pieces and remove the cores and seeds. Do not add cores or seeds to the soup.
Step 8
Add water and soup base
Add 1800ml water to the soup pot. Add lean pork, ginger slices, dried figs, almonds, and honey date.
Step 9
Simmer soup base
Bring to a boil, then turn to medium-low heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Skim off any foam with a ladle.
Step 10
Add apples and pears
Add apple and pear pieces and continue simmering over medium-low heat for 25-35 minutes. Do not boil strongly for too long.
Step 11
Season and taste soup
Before turning off the heat, add a little salt and taste first. This soup should be naturally sweet and does not need chicken powder or sugar.
Step 12
Serve clear soup
Ladle the soup into bowls with a little apple, pear, and lean pork if desired. The finished soup should be clear, lightly golden, and naturally sweet.
Common mistakes
- Not blanching pork makes the soup cloudy and meaty-smelling.
- Not coring apples and pears gives an unpleasant texture.
- Adding fruit too early and boiling hard makes the fruit fall apart and clouds the soup.
- Too much salt covers the natural sweetness of the fruit.
- Adding chicken powder or sugar makes the soup less clean and home-style.
- Using too little water makes the soup too strong after evaporation.
Tips
The most important points are cleanliness and a light taste. Blanch the pork first and remove the fruit cores. For children and elderly family members, do not add too much salt and do not add chicken powder. Ask Ma'am or Sir to taste before adding more salt.
