Green Papaya and Pork Ribs Soup (木瓜排骨汤)

This recipe was told to me by a lady working in a traditional Chinese Medicine Hall.  She is so passionate about sharing her knowledge and this made me eager to try it out!

Prep time:                   Cook time:                      Total time:                       Serving:
    1 hour                         2 hours                            3 hours                         2-3 persons

Nutritional effects:  Drinking this regularly helps to improve the function of our digestive system and consequently boost our skin vitality.  Known to increase milk supply, new mums who are breast-feeding are encouraged to drink this at least twice a week.

Ingredients:
500 gm Green Papaya (青木瓜)
100 gm Raw Peanuts (生的花生仁)
250 gm fresh Pork Ribs, cuts into thick pieces (新鲜排骨)
1 dried Fig (无花果)
2 liters Water (水)
Salt to taste (盐)
Parsley (optional) (香菜，又名芫荽)

Method:
1.  Papaya: Peel skin, remove seeds and cut into slices of about 2 cm thick.
2.  Peanuts: Wash and soak for an hour.
3.  To prepare pork ribs: pour hot boiling water over pork ribs to wash off blood.  Discard the water and rinse the pork ribs to remove any remaining blood.  This step is essential to give you clear soup.
4.   Bring 2 liters of water in a soup pot to the boil.  Add papaya, peanuts and pork ribs, bring to boil again on high heat and continue for 5 minutes before turning to low heat to simmer for another 1½ hours.
5.  Add salt to taste.

Serve in soup bowls and sprinkle with chopped parsley.