Black Bean and Spareribs Soup

Black bean has a lot of benefit from TCM point of view. It is good for the spleen and kidney while reducing blood fat level. Due to its benefit, this soup nourishes the Yin by regulating blood chemistry, benefit the kidneys and darkens hair. Thus, this soup is good to be taken during Summer.

It is very easy to boil make a delicious Chinese Soup. You should use high heat to bring the soup to boil at the very beginning. After boiling for about 30 minutes, you may turn to low heat and simmer the soup for the specified time. Soups made with such varied heat usually taste milder and they have better medicinal effects.

Make sure you serve soups before meals, or even better, before dinners. As soups are like solutions of various nutrients, it's best to serve them before meals on an empty stomach. The absorption in the digestive tract is the most efficient at that time.

Ingredients
300 g black beans
20 pieces of red dates, soak and clean with water
600 g spareribs
1 dried octopus (about 38 g)
salt to taste

1. Rinse spareribs. Scald it in boiling water for 3 minutes. Remove and set aside.

2. Rinse the remaining ingredients. Soak black beans and octopus separately in warm water for 30 minutes.

3. Boil 2 liter of water in a pot. Upon boiling, add in black beans, spare ribs and dried octopus in the pot.

4. Use high heat for 30 minutes and reduce to low heat and cook for 1 1/2 hours.

5. Finally, add in red dates and continue to cook for another 30 minutes.

6. Taste with salt before serve.