Old Cucumber Soup (老黄瓜汤)

Old cucumber soup is one of my kids' favourite soup dish and I cook this often.

I prefer to remove the skin when I cook this so it's easier for the kids when they eat.

This is one with the skin intact and I've added some wolfberries towards the last 5 minutes of cooking.

Old Cucumber Soup (老黄瓜汤)
(Serves 4 - 5)

Ingredients
2 Chinese old cucumber (老黄瓜)
500g pork ribs
2.5 - 3 litres water
2 - 3 honey dates
15 - 20 red dates
12 - 15 dried scallops (optional)
2 pcs dried cuttlefish, cut into smaller pieces (optional)
a handful wolfberries (optional)
salt to taste

Method

1. Wash old cucumber and remove skin.
2. Cut it in half, length-wise and remove the seeds. Cut into small pieces.
3. Blanch pork ribs.
4. In a pot, bring water to boil and add all the ingredients except old cucumber and wolfberries.
5. Using medium fire, bring water to boil again and cook for 5 - 10 minutes, reduce to small flame and simmer for 1 - 2 hours.
6. Add in old cucumber and cook for another 1 hour.
7. Add in the wolfberries (optional) and let it brew in low fire for another 5 - 10 mins.
8. Add salt to taste (optional) before serving.