Longan, Lotus Seed, Sour Jujube Seed, and Fresh Baby Abalone Soup

Why people make this soup

City living brings enormous pressures. When stress becomes chronic and the mind feels perpetually unsettled, it is common in Chinese food therapy to look for ways to nourish the heart and calm the spirit from within. Traditional Chinese medicine recognises a pattern called heart-spleen deficiency, in which prolonged worry, overthinking, or emotional strain depletes both the heart (which governs the spirit and sleep) and the spleen (which governs digestion and blood production). The result is a cluster of familiar modern complaints: persistent low mood, difficulty concentrating, anxious thoughts, poor sleep, forgetfulness, pallor, and fatigue. This soup was designed for exactly that pattern. Longan flesh, lotus seeds, and sour jujube seed are three of the most respected ingredients in Chinese food therapy for calming the mind and supporting restful sleep; the baby abalone adds delicate nourishment. Together the soup is pleasant to eat, and many families make it regularly as a stress-period tonic.

Method

1. Remove the green embryo from each fresh lotus seed; rinse the lotus seeds clean.
2. Rinse and briefly soak the sour jujube seed; set aside.
3. Clean the baby abalone thoroughly, removing any viscera; blanch briefly in boiling water and drain.
4. Place all ingredients except the abalone into a pot with 2.1 L of water.
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
6. After 1 hour, add the abalone to the pot.
7. Continue simmering for another 30 minutes until liquid reduces to 1.2 L.
8. Serve the soup and eat the solid ingredients together.

Nourilo’s Tips

Longan flesh is a wonderful ingredient for nourishing the blood and calming the spirit, and it makes this soup naturally sweet. However, if you or the person you are making it for is pregnant or diabetic, swap the longan for 38 g of dried lily bulb (bai he) — it is a good substitute that also calms the mind without the warming, sweet properties of longan. This soup is best eaten regularly over a period of time rather than as a one-off — emotional and nervous exhaustion takes time to recover from, and consistent nourishment helps.