Bitter melon and soybean soup with pork ribs

Ingredientsone pot, serves 4

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 soupAngled loofah, cloud ear fungus and pork slice soupYellowcress (marsh cress) and snakehead fish soup

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.