Bowl of Pork & Luffa Soup
(click to enlarge)

Pork & Luffa Soup


China - Cantonese
Makes:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:  		 4 soup
**
20 min
Yes		 A light, simple and delicious soup considered by the Chinese to be medicinally correct for summer. This soup is very good reheated, but the onions will be softer. Unlike squash, luffa holds its shape.

6
------
1/2
1/2
1/2
------
1
5
2
1-1/2
5
1/2
oz
---
t
t
t
---
#
oz
oz
in
c
t
Pork, lean (1)
-- Marinade
Oil
Soy Sauce
Cornstarch
------
Luffa (2)
Onion
Mushroom (3)
Ginger
Stock, light (4)
Salt
Prep   -   (10 min)
  1. Slice PORK about 1/8 inch thick, then into strips about 1/4 inch wide by 1 inch long. Massage in all Marinade items and set aside until needed.
  2. Peel LUFFA. Split lengthwise and cut into slices 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick.
  3. Cut ONION in half lengthwise and slice crosswise about 1/8 inch thick.
  4. Cut MUSHROOMS depending on size, split in half for tiny ones like straw mushrooms, quarters for white mushrooms, or whatever have you.
  5. Smack GINGER with your kitchen mallet to crush it moderately.
Run   -   (10 min)
  1. Place Water, Salt and Ginger in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir in Pork, Mushrooms and Luffa. Bring back to a simmer for 2 or 3 minutes.
  2. Stir in Onions and simmer a another 2 minutes - they should remain a bit crunchy.
  3. Check seasoning, fish out ginger and serve hot
NOTES:

  1. Pork:

      Weight is boneless and after removing any excess fat.

  2. Luffa:

      (Loofah, Chinese Okra) This may be angled luffa sold around here as "Chinese Okra" or smooth luffa (if you can get it). The pattern recipe, executed in China, used a smooth luffa. For details see our Luffa page.

  3. Mushrooms:

      The pattern recipe calls for "button mushrooms" but actually shows straw mushrooms. I used slices of small king trumpet mushrooms which stay very firm, but various others will work fine.

  4. Stock:

      The pattern recipe calls for just plain water, but I think the recipe is enhanced with a light stock instead. Pork would be best or Chicken will do.
  5. U.S. measure: t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon, c=cup, qt=quart, oz=ounce, #=pound, cl=clove in=inch, ar=as required tt=to taste
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