Cherry & Dennis Helper Habitat

Cantonese Kudzu and Mud Carp Soup

廣東粉葛鯪魚湯

Cantonese Kudzu and Mud Carp Soup — finished dish

Total time: 125 min
Difficulty: Medium
Servings: 4 servings

Recipe overview

Kudzu root, mud carp and pork bones make a naturally sweet traditional Cantonese soup.

01

Ingredients

Main ingredients

600 g cleaned whole mud carp
700 g kudzu root
500 g pork bones
250 g carrot
2 pieces candied dates
20 g ginger
2 L water

Frying and seasoning

1 tbsp cooking oil
1 tsp salt

Cantonese Kudzu and Mud Carp Soup — ingredients

02

Tools

large soup pot
frying pan
small saucepan
knife
cutting board

Cantonese Kudzu and Mud Carp Soup — tools

03

Steps

Cantonese Kudzu and Mud Carp Soup — Rinse the pork bones and blanch them for three minutes

Step 1

Rinse the pork bones and blanch them for three minutes

Rinse the pork bones and blanch them for three minutes.

Cantonese Kudzu and Mud Carp Soup — Lift out the bones, rinse off the scum and drain

Step 2

Lift out the bones, rinse off the scum and drain

Lift out the bones, rinse off the scum and drain.

Cantonese Kudzu and Mud Carp Soup — Peel and rinse the kudzu root, then cut it into large chunks

Step 3

Peel and rinse the kudzu root, then cut it into large chunks

Peel and rinse the kudzu root, then cut it into large chunks.

Cantonese Kudzu and Mud Carp Soup — Peel and chunk the carrot, then slice the ginger

Step 4

Peel and chunk the carrot, then slice the ginger

Peel and chunk the carrot, then slice the ginger.

Cantonese Kudzu and Mud Carp Soup — Pat the mud carp dry and check that scales and innards are removed

Step 5

Pat the mud carp dry and check that scales and innards are removed

Pat the mud carp dry and check that scales and innards are removed.

Cantonese Kudzu and Mud Carp Soup — Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the ginger

Step 6

Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the ginger

Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the ginger.

Cantonese Kudzu and Mud Carp Soup — Fry the mud carp for three minutes per side until lightly golden

Step 7

Fry the mud carp for three minutes per side until lightly golden

Fry the mud carp for three minutes per side until lightly golden.

Cantonese Kudzu and Mud Carp Soup — Bring the water to a boil in a large soup pot

Step 8

Bring the water to a boil in a large soup pot

Bring the water to a boil in a large soup pot.

Cantonese Kudzu and Mud Carp Soup — Add the bones, kudzu, carrot, candied dates and fried fish

Step 9

Add the bones, kudzu, carrot, candied dates and fried fish

Add the bones, kudzu, carrot, candied dates and fried fish.

Cantonese Kudzu and Mud Carp Soup — Return to a boil, skim, then cover and simmer for ninety minutes

Step 10

Return to a boil, skim, then cover and simmer for ninety minutes

Return to a boil, skim, then cover and simmer for ninety minutes.

Cantonese Kudzu and Mud Carp Soup — Carefully remove loose fish bones and fragments, then season with salt

Step 11

Carefully remove loose fish bones and fragments, then season with salt

Carefully remove loose fish bones and fragments, then season with salt.

Cantonese Kudzu and Mud Carp Soup — Ladle the kudzu, carrot and broth into bowls and check again for bones while eating

Step 12

Ladle the kudzu, carrot and broth into bowls and check again for bones while eating

Ladle the kudzu, carrot and broth into bowls and check again for bones while eating.

Common mistakes

Mud carp has many fine bones; never serve unchecked flesh directly to children or older adults.

Tips

Frying the fish before simmering reduces fishiness and gives the broth more body.