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.