Bamboo Fungus, Winter Melon, Shiitake and Quail Soup

Why people make this soup

If you spend most of your day sitting at a desk, you may have noticed that any extra weight tends to settle stubbornly around the middle. Nourilo points out that traditional Chinese food therapy specifically looks for foods that help shift abdominal fat accumulation, and bamboo fungus is one of the most respected of these — it lends a beautifully clear, almost luxurious quality to any broth, and has long been considered beneficial for people with high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Combined with winter melon (one of the most effective “draining damp” vegetables) and earthy shiitake mushrooms, this is a soup that feels light and elegant to eat while working away in the background.