Groundnut Roots Soup (花生根汤)

This is a recipe from a vegetable seller.  He claims that this peanut roots soup aids height development for teenagers.  I have also in many different occasions, heard other old folks making the same claim!  

Prep time:                   Cook time:                      Total time:                       Serving:
30 minutes                    2½ hours                        3 hours                          2 persons

Nutritional effects:  Peanut is known to be high in protein.  Drinking this once a week helps to promote general growth and aids height development in teenagers.

Ingredients:

300 gm Fresh Peanut Roots (花生根)

250 gm fresh Pork Ribs, cuts into thick pieces (新鲜排骨)

15 gm Red Dates (红枣)

1.5 liters Water (水)

1 teaspoon Salt (盐)

1 tablespoon Rice Wine (米酒)

Method:
1.  Peanut roots: use only the roots portion, including peanuts, of the plant.  Soak for about 30 minutes and wash thoroughly to ensure removal of soil and grits.
2.  Red dates: wash and soak for 15 minutes to soften.  Remove pits.
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 1.5 liters of water in a soup pot to the boil.  Add peanut roots, red dates and pork ribs, bring to boil again on high heat and continue for 5 minutes before turning to low heat to simmer for another 2 to 2½ hours.
5.  Add salt and rice wine (to taste) and cook for another 5 minutes.

Serve in soup bowls and sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Peanut Roots

Cut away the stem and leave, use only the roots portion.