Steamed Pork Ribs Wintermelon Soup

Steaming soups is a wholesome way of cooking which seals in the flavours and nutrients of ingredients being cooked.  

 

Ingredients

[serves 2-3]

200 gm soft bone pork ribs - cut bite size pieces

150 gm winter melon - skin removed and cut bite size pieces

600 ml water

3 piece tong sum - rinsed

3-5 Chinese red dates - rinsed

1 tbsp dried longan - rinsed

1/2 tsp salt to taste

1/2 tbsp abalone sauce

1 tbsp kei chi [wolf berries] - add last before serving

1/2 tsp rock sugar to taste

 

1. Wash pork ribs, then blanched in boiling water for several minutes.  Drain away water and rinsed.
2. Skin the melon, remove the seed and pith.  Cut bite size pieces.
3. Boil water in saucepan and add in pork ribs and tong sum. Bring to a boil then simmer for 20 minutes. 
4. Add in the rest of ingredients.  Bring to a boil again.
5. Pour soup in a tureen or steaming bowl big enough to hold all the ingredients.
6. Place in a steamer and steam over medium heat for 40-50 minutes or until pork ribs are tender.  Add in kei chi during the last 5 minutes of steaming.
7. Serve soup hot in a claypot if preferred or in a soup bowl.

Notes:
Can replace pork ribs with chicken pieces.  No need to simmer meat [step 4] if using chicken.  Steaming time can be reduced to 30 minutes.