Bak Kut Teh (Herbal Soup) 肉骨茶
Intermediate | 3.5 hours |
Bak Kut Teh (Herbal Soup) is a Chinese herbal soup with dong gui known for its warming properties. Perfect for the colder months.
Bak Kut Teh in the Hokkien or Fujianese dialect literally translates to Pork Rib Tea. This rich herbal soup contains dong gui (Angelica Sinensis), known for its warming properties. For this reason, it is popularly eaten as a supper or late night meal in Malaysia and Singapore. Over here in Minnesota, I like to cook it in the winter as it helps ward off the cold.
Ingredients
10 cups water (2.5 liters)
1 packet Bak Kut Teh herbs (rinsed and drained)
3 slices Angelica Sinensis / Dong Gui (rinsed and drained)
12 Chinese mushrooms / shitake mushrooms (soaked, rinsed, and stalks removed)
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 bulb garlic (separated but not peeled)
2 lbs pork hock, cut into bite-size pieces (900g)
2 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 piece rock sugar (10g)
Salt to taste
12 small tofu puffs (cut into halves)
24 pieces dried bean curd (rinsed, soaked for 20 minutes, drained)
¼ cup goji berries (rinsed and soaked for 10 minutes, drained (30g)
Direction
INSTRUCTIONS
Bring water in a large pot to a boil.
Place all bak kut teh herbs, except for spice sachet, Solomon’s seal rhizome (yok chok), and red or black dates in a muslin filter bag. Dong gui should also be placed in the muslin filter bag.
When water comes to a boil, place muslin bag, spice sachet, yok chok, dates, and mushrooms in the water.
Heat vegetable oil in a large fry pan. Add garlic and pork ribs. Sear ribs for about 3 minutes. Stir in dark soy sauce. Turn off heat and transfer pork ribs and garlic to huge pot.
Bak Kut Teh (Pork Ribs Tea)-10
Add rock sugar. When liquid comes back to a boil, season with salt. Reduce heat to low and allow it to simmer for about 1½ hours.
Add tofu puffs, tofu skin knots, and goji berries. Simmer for another 30 minutes.
Discard muslin filter bag and spice sachet.
Serve with steamed rice, yew char kway (aka as you tiao or Chinese crullers), and cut chilies in soy sauce.
NUTRITION
Calories: 473kcal