Pork shin (shank)

豬展

補虛滋潤

The pork shin — the single dense, sinewy muscle from the leg, nearly fat-free and threaded with tendon. Blanched whole, it survives hours of boiling without falling apart or greasing the soup, and the meat can still be sliced and dipped afterwards. The connoisseur's choice of soup pork.

TCM properties

Nature · neutral　Flavour · sweet、salty　Meridians · spleen、stomach

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese food therapy pork shin is used to replenish deficiency and moisten, a gentle everyday base that tradition holds suitable for almost everyone.

Cautions — read first

Those with gout should take care with long-boiled, concentrated soups

Preparation

Blanch it whole or in large pieces (飛水).

Origin

全國豬場飼養；亞洲肉檔按部位分切 — Shin not seen as a distinct AU online cut; pork leg hock (~$12/kg) is the nearest listed cut

Availability in Australia

Common at Asian grocers

Pairs well with

Apple Asian pear / snow pear Watercress Candied honey date Papaya Black-eyed pea Night-blooming cereus (dried)Dried fig

Soups that use this ingredient · 5

Ching bo leung ("clear-nourishing-cooling") soup with pork shinA$8–14

清補涼豬展湯

strengthens the spleendispels dampnessreplenishes qiSummer

百子櫃Dried Chinese yam· 20 g (5 mace)百子櫃Lotus seed· 20 g (5 mace)百子櫃Dried lily bulb· 20 g (5 mace)百子櫃Job's tears / coix seed· 20 g (5 mace)百子櫃Euryale seed / foxnut· 20 g (5 mace)百子櫃Solomon's seal rhizome· 20 g (5 mace)… +4

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”

Double-boiled pork shin with daikon, bamboo fungus and morelsA$17–23

白蘿蔔竹笙羊肚菌燉豬展

moistens the lungseases indigestionrelieves dryness3h slow fireAutumnWinter

街市White radish / daikon· 1百子櫃Morel mushroom (dried)· 10百子櫃Bamboo fungus· 8街市Pork shin (shank)· 1 piece

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”

Double-boiled pork shin with two ginsengs and sweet apricot kernelsNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

雙蔘南杏燉豬展

replenishes qimoistens the lungssoothes cough3h slow fireWinter

百子櫃Korean red ginseng· 6 g百子櫃Transplanted mountain ginseng· 6 g百子櫃Sweet apricot kernel· 15 g百子櫃Solomon's seal rhizome· 30 g百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel· a third of a piece街市Pork shin (shank)· 60 g

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”

Double-boiled fresh chicken with abalone and conchNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

鮑魚螺頭燉鮮雞

nourishes yinsupports the kidneyssoothes the liver3h slow fireAutumnWinterAll year

百子櫃Abalone (dried or canned)· 30 g (1 piece)百子櫃Dried conch / sea snail head· 15 g街市Fresh chicken (whole or half)· 25 g街市Pork shin (shank)· 20 g百子櫃Dried shiitake mushroom· 30 g

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”

Old cucumber, corn and black-eyed pea soup with pork shinNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

老黃瓜粟米眉豆豬展湯

clears heatnourishes yinstrengthens the spleenSummer

街市Old (mature yellow) cucumber· 1, about 900 g (1.5 catties)街市Corn / maize (with corn silk)· 2百子櫃Black-eyed pea· 75 g百子櫃Peanut· 40 g (1 tael)街市Pork shin (shank)· 300 g百子櫃Candied honey date· 2… +1

“The pot for damp weather.”