Shiitake, Snow Fungus and Soybean Soup (Dong Gu Xue Er Huang Dou Tang)

This soup suits anyone managing a chronic or serious illness as a regular dietary supplement, and is also valued as an everyday health-building dish for the whole family. In traditional Chinese dietary wisdom, it is particularly associated with supporting those whose body has been depleted by illness.

Shiitake mushrooms, snow fungus, and soybeans have each been recognised in food-therapy traditions for their supportive properties, and together they produce a rich, flavourful broth that is traditionally associated with immune support and nourishing the body.

Preparation takes around 20 minutes, followed by 2 hours of simmering, for a total time of about 2 hours 20 minutes. The recipe yields approximately 0.9 to 1.2 litres of soup.

Yes. If the person being cared for does not eat meat, the file suggests replacing the pork with an equal weight of soybeans and a small handful of cashews or peanuts. Fish, such as grass carp, can also replace pork, though the flavour profile will be slightly different.

The guiding principle behind this soup is to use foods that are easy to digest yet genuinely nourishing, making it gentle on the stomach. Families often keep it on regular rotation precisely because it can be enjoyed by everyone at the table without the need to prepare a separate meal for the person who is unwell.