Pork spare ribs

排骨

nourishes yin補虛

Pork spare ribs from the belly side, chopped into chunks with bone, meat and a ribbon of fat together. Blanched and boiled long, the bones sweeten the broth while the meat stays worth eating, making them richer than lean shin as a soup base. Skim the fat for a cleaner bowl.

TCM properties

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

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese food therapy pork ribs are used to nourish yin and replenish deficiency, serving as the everyday meat base of tonic soups.

Cautions — read first

Fattier than pork shin, so skim the soup
Take care if you have gout

Preparation

Chop into pieces and blanch (飛水).

Origin

全國豬場飼養，供本地市場 — Supermarket staple (Coles ~$16/kg) plus frozen Chinese-style rib strips at Asian grocers

Availability in Australia

Common at Asian grocers · A$16–17.48 / kg
Coles pork spare ribs $16.00/kg (promo $15.20/~950g, was $22.80); Umall frozen Chinese-style rib strips 600g $10.49 ($17.48/kg)

Pairs well with

Kudzu root Rice bean Job's tears / coix seed Lotus root Bitter melon Fish maw (dried swim bladder)Dried shiitake mushroom

Soups that use this ingredient · 9

Chayote, corn and carrot soup with pork ribsNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

合掌瓜粟米紅蘿蔔排骨湯

relieves drynessstrengthens the spleenwhets the appetiteAll year

街市Chayote· 2街市Corn / maize (with corn silk)· 1 to 2街市Carrot· 1街市Pork spare ribs· 350 to 600 g百子櫃Candied honey date· 2百子櫃Dried scallop (conpoy)· 2… +1

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

Eight-treasure clear-moistening soupNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

清潤八寶素湯

strengthens the spleendispels dampnessrelieves drynessAll year

街市Carrot· 1街市Lotus root· 300 g百子櫃Euryale seed / foxnut· 20 g (half a tael)百子櫃Lotus seed· 20 g (half a tael)百子櫃Dried lily bulb· 20 g (half a tael)百子櫃Job's tears / coix seed· 20 g (half a tael)… +2

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

Bitter melon and soybean soup with pork ribsNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

苦瓜黃豆排骨湯

clears heatcools internal firebrightens the eyesSummer

街市Bitter melon· 2, about 600 g (1 catty)百子櫃Soybean· 75 g街市Pork spare ribs· 600 g (1 catty)百子櫃Candied honey date· 2百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel· 1 piece街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Double-boiled soup of fish maw, dried scallop and shiitakeA$16–45

花膠瑤柱冬菇燉湯

strengthens the spleenreplenishes qinourishes yin3h slow fireAutumnWinterAll year

百子櫃Fish maw (dried swim bladder)· 20 g百子櫃Dried scallop (conpoy)· 12 g百子櫃Dried sea whelk slices· 10 g街市Pork spare ribs· 120 g街市Fresh chicken (whole or half)· 60 g百子櫃Dried shiitake mushroom· 12 g… +3

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

Papaya and snow fungus soup with pork ribsA$18–21

木瓜雪耳排骨湯

moistens the lungsnourishes the complexioneases the bowelsAutumnAll year

街市Papaya· 1百子櫃Snow fungus· 1 whole piece百子櫃Sweet apricot kernel· 40 g (1 tael) of 南杏 sweet and 北杏 bitter apricot kernels combined百子櫃Bitter apricot kernel· 40 g (1 tael) of 南杏 sweet and 北杏 bitter apricot kernels combined百子櫃Candied honey date· 2街市Pork spare ribs· 600 g… +2

“The pot Ah Ma keeps for her night owls.”

Glehnia root, Solomon's seal, pear and snow fungus soup with pork ribsA$18–21

沙參玉竹雪梨雪耳排骨湯

nourishes yinmoistens the lungsrelieves drynessAutumnSpring

百子櫃Glehnia root· 40 g (1 tael)百子櫃Solomon's seal rhizome· 40 g (1 tael)街市Asian pear / snow pear· 2街市Apple· 1百子櫃Snow fungus· 20 g (5 mace)百子櫃Sweet apricot kernel· 20 g (5 mace)… +2

“The pot Ah Ma keeps for her night owls.”