Soup Name: Red Dates and Young Coconut with Fish Tail Soup

Introduction:

This is a great soup for the summers.  It’s mild enough for children and with the variety of ingredients, it’s a healthy and refreshing drink. 

1 pound of fresh pork shank
10 red dates
2 big fish tails
3 slices of fresh ginger
1 young coconut
2-3 L of water
1 teaspoon of salt (to marinate the pork & fish)

How do I prepare it?

Pre-marinate the pork overnight with the salt (although this step is not necessary)
Clean fish and wipe the fish with paper towels or a cloth to remove excess water
Cover the fish with a small amount of salt (inside and out)
Let it sit for an hour and then drain any water
Start boiling your soup water
In a pan, add oil and fry the ginger with the fish on low-medium heat (until the fish is completely cooked and the skin is a slightly browned)
Put the fish into a soup bag
Blanch the pork in a separate pot of boiling water
Soak the red dates in warm water for 10 minutes
Break open the young coconut and keep the coconut juice.  Cut the the coconut into slices including the inner brown skin.
Add fish, pork, dates, coconut and coconut juice to the boiling soup water.
Boil on high heat for 30 minutes
Reduce to a simmer for at least 2 hours
Serve and enjoy!

 Any benefits?

• Young coconut is rich in protein and is ideal for hot summer days
• This soup helps nourish the lungs and relieve coughing
• It is a mildly sweet soup that is not oily or greasy
• The red dates are good for relaxing the mind and provides a tranquilizing effect
• Red dates are also good for blood circulation

Any precautions?

• Always use a soup bag when boiling fish soups as the fish tend to disintegrate
• Be sure to use minimal oil when frying the fish as the fish absorb the oil and in turn is transferred to the soup