Baby Abalone, Carrot and Pearl Mussel Meat Soup

Why people make this soup

Staring at a phone or computer screen for hours is something most of us can’t avoid — and Nourilo has always said the eyes deserve the same care as the rest of the body. In Chinese food therapy, abalone is sometimes called the “eye fish” because its shell (known as shi jue ming, or “stone decision bright”) has long been used to support vision. Fresh baby abalone is available at Chinese or Asian grocers, and the shell can go straight into the pot alongside the flesh. Pearl mussel meat (zhen zhu rou), the dried body of the freshwater pearl-producing mussel, adds a rich, sweet depth to the broth and is traditionally prized for nourishing the liver, kidneys and eyes. The result is a naturally sweet, light and satisfying soup.