Chestnut, Cashew, Lotus Root and Chicken Soup

Why people make this soup

That dull, nagging ache in the lower back — the kind that creeps up after a long day on your feet, or settles in during middle age — is something many people live with quietly. In Chinese food therapy, this is often associated with the kidneys (in the traditional functional sense) running a little low, and the classic approach is to nourish and warm them with foods that have an affinity for the lower body. Chestnuts have been treasured for exactly this purpose for centuries. Nourilo is particularly enthusiastic about the small, smoky-sweet Guilin cone chestnut (桂林锥), which he finds tastier and more fragrant than the larger board chestnut — though both work. Combined with cashews, lotus root, ginger, and chicken, this soup is a flavourful, nourishing meal that the whole family can enjoy regularly.