Pork and Corn Soup (猪肉玉米汤)

Chinese pork and corn soup is a comforting dish on a cold day. It features tender pork ribs, and sweet corn on the cob and carrot in a gingery broth that’s full of umami. It makes a nutritious light meal by itself, is great for cooking ahead and serving later, and is wonderful for postpartum nourishment and recovery. {Gluten-Free Adaptable}

Pork and corn soup is a popular homestyle in China. Cut up pork ribs are simmered with ginger and green onion until fall-off-the-bone tender, then corn and carrot are added to impart a sweet taste to the soup. It is a dish that requires very little preparation and hands-on time. It’s often served as a starter or alongside other dishes. The soup is a light and nutritious meal that is consumed while recovering from illness. It’s also a postpartum soup that is enjoyed by moms after childbirth.

Pork and corn soup in postpartum recovery

In Chinese postpartum care, commonly referred to as “zuo yue zi” (坐月子) or 30-day confinement, there is a strong emphasis on nourishing the mother with specific foods that aid in recovery and replenishment after childbirth. Chinese pork and corn soup is one of the nourishing soups traditionally given to new mothers during this period.

Nourishment and Energy Restoration

• Pork is a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, which are essential for rebuilding the mother’s strength and repairing tissue after childbirth. It’s particularly valued for being a rich source of iron, which can help replenish the body’s blood supply, often depleted during labor and delivery.
• Corn adds natural sweetness and is rich in fiber and carbohydrates, which provide energy, promote digestion, and help combat fatigue. In the context of postpartum recovery, corn is seen as a mild and easily digestible food that helps boost energy without being too heavy.

Warming Properties

According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), foods with warming properties are crucial for postpartum recovery. After childbirth, it is believed that the body is in a “cold” state, and warming foods help restore balance.

Pork, particularly when combined with ingredients like ginger and sesame oil, is considered warming. Ginger is often added to postpartum soups to further enhance their warming and circulatory-boosting properties.

Promoting Milk Production

Protein-rich soups like pork and corn soup are believed to support lactation. The combination of nourishing broth and high-quality proteins helps increase milk production for breastfeeding mothers. In Chinese tradition, soups and broths are staples for breastfeeding women and are offered throughout the day, because they are hydrating and provide essential nutrients that support both mother and baby.

Easily Digestible

Pork and corn soup is light, easy to digest, and gentle on the stomach, making it an ideal food for postpartum women who may have weakened digestion after childbirth. Chinese postpartum meals often emphasize soups and stews because they are nutrient-dense yet easy on the digestive system, which can be sensitive during recovery.

Pork and corn soup ingredients

What type of pork ribs to use

If you have access to an Asian or Chinese market, it’s best to get pork ribs that are cut crosswise into shorter sections. Usually you can find ribs that are cut into 1.5” (3 cm) long pieces, or the ones that are about 3” (8 cm) long. The former type requires less time to cook, and the latter type is meatier in taste. I used the larger ribs in this recipe.

 If you purchase a slab of pork ribs from a grocery store, you can ask the butcher to cut the slab into two to three strips (across the bones) using their saw. 

If you can only find the longer ribs, that is totally fine too. You might need to cook the soup a bit longer so the pork turns tender. 

Mise en place

When you’re ready to cook, your table should have:

• Pork ribs, cut into single riblets
• Sliced aromatics (green onion, ginger)
• Corn, cut to pieces
• Carrot, sliced
• White pepper 
• Shaoxing wine

Dipping sauce

I like to make a simple dipping sauce using soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil and a touch of sugar for the ribs. You can also simply sprinkle some salt over the ribs and enjoy them. 

Pork and corn soup variations 

Variations of this soup might include additional ingredients like:

• Red dates – I would only add a small handful, or 5 to 6 dates, so the soup won’t taste too sweet.
• Goji berries – 1 to 2 tablespoons is sufficient. 
• Wood ear mushrooms – for texture and detoxification
• Dried shiitake mushrooms – I would only use 2 to 3 so it doesn’t impart a very strong taste

How to make pork and corn soup

To start, it’s important to rinse the pork with water, then start the soup by using cold tap water. A lot of Chinese home cooks would soak the pork in cold water for 1 hour or so before cooking, then dump the soaking water.. It further draws blood and impurities from the ribs, so the soup tastes more clear. You can totally skip this step if short on time.

Bring the water to a boil then skim off the brown foam from the top. Some home cooks prefer to further dump this pot of water to further get rid of the impurities. But I found it dilutes the pork soup at the end. So I prefer to only skim off the foam and reserve the broth.

Then you only need to add green onion, ginger and Shaoxing wine. Cover the pot and let the soup simmer. The soup should be on a low boil the whole time.

Once the ribs start to get tender, you can add the corn and the carrot and further simmer it for 30 minutes. Once the soup is almost done, I would taste the soup. If the taste is too mild, I would leave the pot uncovered for the final 15 to 20 minutes, so the soup will be more condensed later. Once the soup is done, add salt, white pepper and green onion to adjust flavor. You can add a touch of sesame oil for a further boost.

How to serve pork and corn soup

I usually serve pork and corn soup on the side of main dishes for dinner. Sometimes, I also like to enjoy it by itself as a light lunch. 

For postpartum recovery, this soup is offered throughout the day to sip on, and the ribs and veggies inside as a snack. 

Overall, pork and corn soup is a nourishing and hearty dish that is full of nutrition and tastes great. It will warm you up from the inside out on a cold day!

To make the dish gluten-free, use dry sherry to replace Shaoxing wine. Use tamari instead of light soy sauce, and use rice vinegar instead of Chinkiang vinegar. 

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