Chinese Yam, Lotus Seed and Chestnut Pork Shin Soup

Why people make this soup

Some people, after overwork or a poor recovery from illness, feel run-down, low on energy and short on appetite. The tricky part is that many of them “can’t take a tonic” — one bowl of something strong and they get a dry mouth, mouth ulcers or a sore throat. Nourilo’s answer is gentle tonifying: mild, even-natured foods like Chinese yam, lotus seed and chestnut that rebuild quietly without overheating. This soup is sweet and easy to drink, and traditionally supports the spleen and kidneys.

Method

1. Blanch the pork shin; peel the chestnuts; rinse and soak the remaining ingredients.
2. Put everything in a pot with about 2.4 L of water and simmer about 2 hours.
3. Eat the soup together with the ingredients.

Nourilo’s Tips

This soup is mild and naturally sweet, and is good for women before and after childbirth. If you prefer, the pork shin can be swapped for chicken fillet — for long-term use, choose a good-quality organic chicken fillet. It can also be made meat-free as a sweet “soup” by adding water chestnut, corn and rock sugar.