老火湯LO FO TONG

All soups › Heat-clearing

Bitter melon and soybean soup with pork ribs

苦瓜黃豆排骨湯
clears heatcools internal firebrightens the eyesSummer slow-boiled · 2 hours Not yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Ingredients

街市Bitter melon· also called 涼瓜; remove the pith2, about 600 g (1 catty)
百子櫃Soybean75 g
街市Pork spare ribs600 g (1 catty)
百子櫃Candied honey date2
百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel1 piece
街市Fresh ginger2 slices

Method

  1. Soak the 黃豆 (soybeans) for an hour, then wash them. Remove the pith from the 苦瓜 (bitter melon) and cut it into large pieces.
  2. Blanch the pork ribs (飛水, a quick boil to clean off blood and scum).
  3. Bring 2.5 litres of water to a rolling boil over high heat, then add everything.
  4. Once it returns to the boil, turn the heat low and simmer for 2 hours.
  5. Season with salt and it is ready.

Who it suits

  • feeling agitated in summer heat
  • mouth ulcers

Who should take care

  • people with cold, weak digestion (脾胃虛寒) take care
  • pregnant women take care
  • gout sufferers should drink only a little (黃豆 are high in purines, on top of a long-boiled meat soup)

Soup stories

An old Hong Kong pairing. Some families add 鹹菜 for the play of salty against bitter. [common practice, verify]

From the same family

Winter melon, dried shrimp and glass noodle soupNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
冬瓜蝦米粉絲湯（滾冬瓜湯）
clears heatdispels dampnesspromotes water metabolismSummer
街市Winter melon· about 600 g (1 catty)百子櫃Dried small shrimp· 1 to 2 tablespoons百子櫃Mung bean vermicelli· 1 bunch百子櫃Dried shiitake mushroom· 2 to 3街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Angled loofah, cloud ear fungus and pork slice soupA$7–15
勝瓜雲耳肉片湯（絲瓜滾湯）
clears heatcools internal fireeases the bowelsSummer
街市Angled loofah· 1 to 2百子櫃Cloud ear fungus· 1 small handful街市Lean pork· about 150 to 200 g街市Fresh ginger· 2 to 3 slices

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Yellowcress (marsh cress) and snakehead fish soupNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
塘葛菜生魚湯
clears heatdispels dampnessmoistens the lungsSpringSummerAll year
百子櫃Yellowcress / marsh cress· 300 g百子櫃Snakehead fish· 1, about 600 g (1 catty)街市Lean pork· 300 g百子櫃Candied honey date· 2百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel· 1 piece街市Fresh ginger· 3 slices

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Lo Fo Tong is cultural food-heritage reference, not medical advice. If you are pregnant, unwell or on medication, talk to your doctor or registered practitioner before changing what is in the pot.