Soup for Sparkling Eyes

After like a few weeks of not going to the market, I decided to go today. I have a love-hate relationship with market days. On one hand I know I am stocking up on fresh food and vegetables. On the other I know I need to clean out the fridge when I get back coz I need to make space for the new stuff that I bought.

Anyway.

Today I bought pork bones to make a soup called Ming Mu Tang or literal translation, Bright Eye Soup.

We Chinese aren't so subtle. If the soup makes our eyes bright/sparkling/clear, then name it such. No point beating around the bush. Pragmatic us indeed.

As always, I start with blanching the pork bones in boiling water over the stove.

This gets rid of the scummy stuff that floats up on your soup.

Next, I soak the herbs - they're pre-packed dried herbs from my herbalist in town. Dried herbs from China are getting more expensive these days. Damn the ringgit and damn the GST.

I usually use a colander and a plastic basin to soak the herbs. Bigger pieces of herbs are easily rinsed under running water but this packet has tiny seed-like herbs which need a good rehydration at least for 5-10 minutes.

Then all you need to do is put the blanched pork, rinsed herbs and hot water into the slow cooker. I use about 1.5 liters of boiling hot water* which is equivalent to roughly 6 bowls. Put the lid on and switch cooker to Auto and let this dinner merrily for 6 hours. Season with some salt to taste after 6 hours.

*use freshly boiled hot water from an electric jug.

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The Soup Queen

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