Nutritious Peanut Root Soup (Thor Tau Kin Th’ng / Fah Sung Kan Tong) simmered with pork ribs, red dates, and peanuts for good measure.
Have you heard of Peanut Root Soup (Thor Tau Kin Th’ng / Fah Sung Kan Tong)? Unfortunately, I have not until Paul told me about it. He grew up with it. This is not a soup my Mom cooks, nor have I seen fresh peanut roots being sold in the wet markets. Most likely I was not paying attention but then again who in their youth ever likes going to the wet markets in Malaysia, let alone pays attention?
Peanut Root Soup Thought to Help You Grow Taller
Anyway, it is considered a nourishing and strengthening soup. Even more important is that it is considered to help kids grow taller, really? Apparently it doesn’t work on adults…haha! 😂 You can certainly try but don’t hold me responsible if you don’t grow a couple inches taller. Like all ads, the caveat is, “Try at your own risk.”
Seriously though, this soup does taste very good. It would have been better had I doubled the amount of the dried peanut roots but such ingredients are precious as there is no easy way for me to replenish it. When the soup is simmering on the stove, the aroma is definitely different from a regular peanut soup. I can only imagine the fragrance of fresh Peanut Root Soup. Still I am thankful that at least I get to try the dried peanut root version. Like I said, someday I may grow my own just so I can try it.
Peanut Roots
In Malaysia (and I believe also in Singapore), you can buy fresh peanut roots from the market. Unfortunately, that is not the case here unless I go down south to get some directly from a peanut farmer. 😁 The other only option is to grow some peanuts in my little vegetable garden. That said, dried peanut roots can be purchased from many Chinese “medical halls” because it is considered a nutritious and strengthening ingredient.
Paul purchased two packages for Peanut Root Soup from a Chinese “Medical Hall” in Penang not too long ago. Since it is dried, I stashed it in one of my herbal boxes and promptly forgot about it until now. There was just 1½oz (42g) of dried peanut roots together with 16g of goji/wolf berries and 5g of what appears to be cross sections of astralagus roots. I decided not to use the astralagus roots so that the soup will not taste too medicinal.
Cleaning the Peanut Roots
The hardest thing about this soup is cleaning the peanut roots whether they are dried or fresh. Like all roots, they hold a lot of dirt and grit. You have to wash them thoroughly of risk having a pot of gritty soup. I had to soak the dried roots for 2 to 3 hours and wash it with copious amount of water to make sure that it is grit free. I then placed all the thoroughly washed roots in a filter bag so that there are not bits and pieces of tiny roots all over the soup. That worked out quite well, leaving the soup free of roots.
Similar Tools Used in Making This Peanut Root Soup
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Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Stainless Stockpot with Cover, 6-Quart
Cuisipro Stainless Steel Measuring Cup and Spoon Set
Peanut Root Soup
Ingredients
- 1½ oz dried peanut roots (42g)
- ½ cup blanched peanuts (85g)
- 12 red dates (rinsed and soaked for 15 mins)
- 12½ cups water + some for blanching (3 liters)
- 12 oz pork ribs (340g)
- 2 tbsp goji / wolf berries (16g)
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Rinse and soak peanut roots for at least 2 hours to soften so that any grit can be repeatedly washed off. Drain and place the roots in a filter bag.
- Rinse and soak peanuts and red dates for 30 minutes. Drain.
- Fill a large pot half full of water. Bring to a boil. Add pork ribs. Allow it to blanch for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove with thongs and rinse in cold water.
- Discard water in pot and fill with 12½ cups (3 liters) fresh water. Bring to a boil.
- Add blanched pork ribs, peanut roots, peanuts, and red dates. Bring water back up to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and allow soup to simmer for 2 hours. Skim off any scum appearing on the surface.
- In the last 10 minutes of simmering, rinse and soak goji/wolf berries for 5 minutes. Drain and add it to the simmering soup.
- Season with salt to taste and allow soup to continue to simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off stove. Remove and discard the filter bag with peanut roots.
- Serve warm in individual bowls.
Nutrition
You may not grow taller by drinking this soup but I promise it will taste good, very good. Do give it a try.
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