Make Lotus Root Soup

Also known as li gnao tong in Cantonese, lotus soup has been served by Chinese families for generations. Lotus root is consumed in other Asian countries as well, known as bhe in some parts of India and Pakistan, and renkon in Japanese. The soup traditionally contains ginger, red dates, as well as chicken bones and is a Chinese folk remedy for dispelling internal heat.

Steps

 * 1) Bring the water to a boil.
 * 2) [[Image:Lotusroot_852.jpg|thumb]] Wash the lotus roots thoroughly, making sure there's no soil in the holes, then cut the lotus roots into slices (1cm or 0.4" thick). Discard the ends.
 * 3)  [[Image:IMG_0413_649.jpg|thumb|]]Place the lotus roots, ginger, chicken bones and red dates into the boiling water.
 * 4)  Allow the ingredients in the water to boil then simmer for about an hour. The soup may be simmered longer depending on how tasty you would like it to be (see Tips). A slow cooker can also be used.
 * 5)  [[Image:Lotusroot_998.jpg|thumb]]Serve the soup in a bowl. You may wish to add a pinch of pepper to the soup for extra flavour.

Tips

 * Many recipes recommend scalding or blanching the bones briefly in boiling water before putting them into the soup. Blanching the bones can help remove some of the fats and makes for a clearer soup.
 * [[Image:IMG_0415_796.jpg|thumb|]]To get the most aromatic flavour of the soup, leave it to simmer overnight. The soup should be thicker and taste sweeter.
 * For a vegan variation, use mushroom stock instead of bones. Combine dry Chinese mushrooms or fresh shitake mushrooms with celery or use mushroom seasoning like "Vegehop". Other gelatin alternatives include: carrageenan, agar-agar, fruit pectin, and locust bean gum.
 * Older lotus roots are better for soups.

Warnings

 * Lotus root should not be eaten raw because of the potential for parasite transmission. Only the tender root is sliced and eaten raw. The tough one as shown in the picture is only good for soup.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Make Pomegranate Soup
 * How to Make Chinese Dumplings
 * How to Make Chinese Chicken Corn Soup
 * How to Make Chinese New Year Cake Nian Gao (Sticky Rice Cake)
 * How to Make Miso Soup