Fresh Abalone, Dried Scallop, Goji Berry, and Chicken Breast Soup

Why people make this soup

Around the Lunar New Year, families gather for a rich reunion dinner, and a nourishing pot of soup is always at the centre of the table. This combination of fresh baby abalone, dried scallop, goji berries, and free-range chicken has long been prized in Cantonese food-therapy for its deeply savoury flavour and its traditional associations with nourishing the liver and supporting eye health. Using the breast meat and carcass from a free-range chicken keeps the prep simple while delivering a beautiful, golden broth.

Method

1. Clean and prepare the baby abalone: scrub the shells and remove the innards; rinse well.
2. Soak the dried scallops in water until soft, about 30 minutes; reserve the soaking water if clean.
3. Cut the Jinhua ham into thick slices.
4. Rinse the goji berries; peel and chunk the carrot.
5. Blanch the chicken pieces, baby abalone, and Jinhua ham together in boiling water for a few minutes; drain and rinse.
6. Place all ingredients in a pot with 3.6 L of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours until the liquid reduces to approximately 1.8–2.1 L.
7. Serve the soup together with the cooked ingredients.

Nourilo’s Tips

The abalone shell is where some of the eye-nourishing properties are said to reside. Give it a good scrub, place it in a soup bag, add it to the pot, and simply remove the bag before serving. The whole pot — meat, abalone, and broth — can be enjoyed together.