Five-Finger Peach, Niu Da Li, Chestnut and Scarlet Runner Bean Soup

Why people make this soup

When the weather swings between cold and warm and turns damp and foggy, a lot of people feel heavy and drowsy, with a stuffy chest, bloating and achy limbs. In food-therapy terms this is the body’s yang energy not flowing freely while dampness builds up. This soup is Nourilo’s answer: it strengthens the spleen, helps clear dampness and relaxes the sinews.

Method

1. Soak and rinse all the ingredients; pit the red dates.
2. Add everything to a pot with 2.7 L of water and simmer for 2 hours until reduced to about 1.2 L.

Nourilo’s Tips

This soup can be vegetarian or made with meat; the herbal taste is light, so young and old can drink it. Add pork shin or pork ribs for a richer, tastier broth.