Cantonese Ham and Lotus Root Soup

2 Comments

With the Chinese New Year coming up at the end of the month, I figured this would be the perfect time to post this Cantonese Ham and Lotus Root Soup recipe. You only need four ingredients to make this delicious soup.

Ham and Lotus Root Soup by myheartbeets.com

A good Cantonese soup has a clear broth, few ingredients and is cooked low and slow. See how clear the broth is in my picture? Yep, I did it right.

So, I’m not Chinese nor do I celebrate the Chinese New Year (hey, maybe I will this year…) but I love trying recipes from different parts of the world. My godmom, Mailan, is Chinese and this is a recipe she gave me – so, you can trust that it’s authentic. I love all of Mailan’s cooking and ask her for advice all the time (did you see the tip she gave me in my bone broth recipe?). She lived in France for awhile and is also an amazing French cook. Here’s a picture of Mailan, me and my mom at my Hollywood themed bridal shower.

hollywood bridal shower myheartbeets.com
Mailan, me and my mom at my bridal shower

I used to love ham bean soup, especially this time of year. For those following a paleo diet, legumes are out of the question. So, I asked Mailan what I could make that would be just as tasty and filling – and she suggested this ham and lotus root soup.

The ingredients list is very short, but the broth is incredibly flavorful and comforting. To make this soup, you just need water, a ham bone, lotus root and some jujube dates (red dates – can find in any Asian grocery store). You can also add pig feet for more flavor and collagen.

For those of you who have never used lotus root before – it’s the rhizome of the lotus flower plant. It’s texture and flavor is very similar to that of a water chestnut. The coolest thing about the lotus root is that even after 8 hours of cooking, it’s still crunchy. Lotus root is commonly used in Indian dishes as well (I love it stir-fried – will have to share a recipe at some point). After you peel and slice the root, soak it in water and rinse a few times to make sure you’ve removed any dirt. When cleaned and sliced, it’s really very pretty.

Ham and Lotus Root Soup by myheartbeets.com

I think this soup is delicious as is, but you can always add other spices at the end if you’d like. Enjoy sipping on this soup. I hope you’re amazed at how just a few ingredients can make something so very flavorful.

Cantonese Ham & Lotus Root Soup

Ham and Lotus Root Soup by myheartbeets.com

Cantonese Ham & Lotus Root Soup

No ratings yet
Pin Recipe Print Recipe

Ingredients
 

  • 1 ham bone with some meat left on it can also use pork ribs
  • 2 small lotus roots peeled and cut into ¼ inch thick slices
  • 10 Jujube red date berries
  • 8-10 cups water enough to cover everything (I used 10 cups)

Instructions
 

  • Peel the lotus root and slice it to desired thickness. Soak the slices in warm water for a few minutes and then rinse and add to the crockpot.
  • Add the remaining ingredients to your crockpot and set it on low for six hours.
  • After six hours, remove the bone from pot and take any meat off of it.
  • Add the meat and bone back to the pot and cook another 2 hours on low.
  • When the soup is done, remove the bone and eat the soup right away or let it cool and refrigerate overnight. You can remove the fat that forms on top if you’d like.

Notes

Before serving, you can strain the soup through a mesh strainer and then add the lotus root and ham pieces to the bowl. This makes for a clearer broth.
Did you make this recipe?Tag @myheartbeets on Instagram and hashtag it #myheartbeets!

Pin This Recipe

Like this recipe? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board now so you will remember to make it later!

Pin Recipe Now0
For more Leftover Ham Recipes, you might like:

Ham and Red Lentil Soup
Creamy Ham and Wild Rice Soup (instant pot)
French Garbure Soup

Need to make a ham first? Here’s my recipe for ham with a spiced honey glaze (instant pot).

Related Recipes

Cookbooks

Find out more about my cookbooks Indian Food Under Pressure and South Asian Persuasion.

About Ashley

Hi, I’m Ashley. Thanks for being here! I truly believe that food brings us closer together. Gather around a table with good food and good people, and you’ll have the ingredients you need to create some happy memories. My hope is that you find recipes here that you can’t wait to share with family and friends.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get our latest content by email. We won't send you spam. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment & Rating

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. Hapee says

    Thank you Ashley; I bought a bag of frozen prepared lotus root on impulse yet was unsure what to do with it! 🙂

paneer lababdar

Ashley's Secrets

INDIAN FOOD

MADE EASY

Favorite tips & tricks to

easy & delicious Indian cooking

FREE EMAIL BONUS