Cherry & Dennis Recipes
Lotus Root Peanut Pork Bone Soup
蓮藕花生豬骨湯
Recipe overview
Lotus Root Peanut Pork Bone Soup is a very common Hong Kong family soup. Lotus root gives natural sweetness and a pleasant bite, peanuts add aroma, and pork bones make the soup base more savoury. It is suitable for everyday family dinners. Children can drink the soup and eat the softened lotus root, while elderly family members can enjoy the clear, sweet broth. This recipe is also useful for helpers to learn because it practises blanching pork bones, cleaning lotus root, and controlling soup heat. The key points are to blanch the pork bones first, soak the peanuts, cut the lotus root into thick pieces, and simmer over medium-low heat so the soup stays clear and sweet.
01
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 600 g pork bones
- 600 g lotus root
- 80 g peanuts
- 1 carrot
- 2 honey dates
- 3 slices ginger
- 1.8 L water
- 1/2 tsp salt, adjust at the end
Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt, add only at the end
- a little more salt according to the family's taste If the soup is not flavourful enough, add
02
Tools
- cutting board
- kitchen knife
- soup pot
- soup ladle
- large bowl
- small bowl
- tablespoon
- tongs
03
Steps
Step 1
Prepare the ingredients
Prepare the pork bones, lotus root, peanuts, carrot, honey dates, and ginger slices. Clean and handle the ingredients before cooking so the soup will taste sweet and clear.
Step 2
Soak the peanuts
Rinse the peanuts with water, then soak them for 20–30 minutes. Soaked peanuts soften more easily and any surface impurities are washed away.
Step 3
Rinse the pork bones
Rinse the pork bones under water to remove surface blood and small bone fragments. Be careful around sharp bone edges.
Step 4
Blanch the pork bones
Place the pork bones in a pot of cold water. Heat over medium heat until boiling, then cook for 3–5 minutes so blood and foam rise to the surface.
Step 5
Rinse the blanched bones
Remove the blanched pork bones and rinse away foam and impurities under clean water. This keeps the soup clearer and reduces any strong smell.
Step 6
Prepare the lotus root
Peel the lotus root and cut it into thick pieces. After cutting, check the holes for mud or sand and rinse well if needed.
Step 7
Cut carrot and ginger
Peel the carrot and cut it into large chunks. Slice the ginger. Carrot adds sweetness, and ginger helps reduce the pork bone smell.
Step 8
Add ingredients to the pot
Add pork bones, lotus root, peanuts, carrot, honey dates, and ginger slices to the soup pot. Pour in 1.8 L water.
Step 9
Bring to a boil
Bring the soup to a boil over high heat. Use a soup ladle to skim off surface foam so the soup stays clearer.
Step 10
Simmer the soup
After boiling, turn to medium-low heat, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes. Keep it at a gentle simmer instead of a strong rolling boil.
Step 11
Check the texture
Open the lid and check whether the lotus root and peanuts are soft. If you want softer peanuts, simmer 10–15 minutes longer and add hot water if the level becomes too low.
Step 12
Season and serve
Before turning off the heat, add salt gradually and taste. Do not add salt too early, as the soup may become too salty after reducing. Serve hot.
Common mistakes
- Skipping blanching makes the soup cloudy and can leave a strong smell.
- Not rinsing after blanching leaves foam and impurities in the soup.
- Not cleaning mud from the lotus root holes affects hygiene.
- Cutting lotus root too thin makes it break apart easily after simmering.
- Not soaking peanuts first may leave them too firm.
- Boiling on high heat the whole time makes the soup cloudy and evaporates water too quickly.
- Adding salt too early may make the soup too salty after it concentrates.
Tips
The most important step is to blanch the pork bones first and check the lotus root holes for mud. The heat does not need to be strong; a gentle simmer is enough. Salt should be added at the end. For the first try, keep it light and ask Ma’am or Sir to taste at the end. If there are children or elderly family members at home, simmer the lotus root a little softer for easier chewing.
