Lotus root soup 莲藕汤

This soup is another favourite in the family. The taste gets better the longer you cook it. My mother likes to add peanuts but you can use anything that you like. My daughter loves water chestnuts, which is what I am using today but it is tedious peeling them. When I was staying in Beijing I was able to get ready peeled ones which make life easier.

Lotus Root is the tuber of the lotus plant. It has a brownish yellow surface, a thin rind, and a greyish white color inside. It has a crispy and crunchy texture with a refreshing and mild sweet flavor like that of chestnut. When heated, the lotus root will become starchy and reddish in colour. Fresh lotus root can be cooked in many way, such as in stir fried dishes, stews, soups, salads, appetizers, and desserts. Eating lotus root will help Increase the body’s immune system and protect against cancer, suppress fever because of its’ antibacterial properties, break down toxins such as ammonia residues that causes gout and stop bleeding.

 Ingredients

1 piece lotus root

1 chicken carcass

A few fresh water chestnuts

Peel and slice the lotus root

Peel the water chestnuts

Don’t forget to blanch the chicken carcass

I am sure you don’t want all that scum in your soup

Put everything into the slow cooker and let it cook for about 6 hours

You can also try the recipe below

Ingredients

1 fresh lotus root 

1 sweet corn

3 large pieces of pork bones 

Cook on the stove top if you do not have a slow cooker