Arrowroot and Water Chestnut Lean Pork Soup

Why people make this soup

Arrowroot (zhu yu) is an ingredient you might walk right past — pale, plump, and oddly shaped, almost like an oversized silkworm. It has a long history as a food that supports the lungs and urinary tract, particularly in dry or warm weather. Paired with sweet water chestnuts and honey dates, it makes a soup that tastes wonderfully clean and light.

Method

1. Peel the arrowroot and cut into roughly equal chunks.
2. Peel the water chestnuts, rinse well, and slice.
3. Cut the lean pork into chunks and blanch in boiling water for a minute or two; drain and set aside.
4. Place all ingredients in a pot with 2.1 L of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 1 hour until the liquid reduces to 1.2 L.
5. Serve warm; drink the soup and eat the soft solids.

Nourilo’s Tips

This soup is naturally sweet and mild — pleasant enough for the whole family, including children. It is also associated with supporting people who experience high blood pressure, constipation, or haemorrhoid-related bleeding. However, anyone with a cold or weak digestive constitution should have it only occasionally, not as a daily drink. If you cannot find arrowroot, sweet corn cobs make a reasonable substitute.