Tomato, Carrot, Corn and Fresh Abalone Soup

Why people make this soup

Fresh small abalone are available at fishmongers and Asian seafood counters. Abalone is prized in Chinese food therapy for its rich mineral content — calcium, iron, phosphorus and vitamins A and B — and for providing protein that is considered relatively easy for the body to absorb. Combined with tomato, carrot and corn (all containing lycopene, lutein and provitamin A), this bright, sweet-tasting soup is traditionally enjoyed to help protect the eyes from environmental stressors and to support skin that looks clear and even-toned.

Method

1. Peel and cut the tomatoes and carrot into chunks. Husk the corn and cut into sections.
2. Ask your fishmonger to clean the abalone, or clean them yourself: remove the meat, scrub the shells thoroughly, then blanch both meat and shells briefly in boiling water.
3. Place all ingredients — including the cleaned shells — into a pot with 2.1 L of water.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a steady simmer for 1 hour.
5. Serve the soup together with the solid ingredients and enjoy.

Nourilo’s Tips

The abalone shell is known in Chinese herbalism as shi jue ming. Simmering it alongside the abalone meat is an old Cantonese habit: it is traditionally associated with helping to lower elevated blood pressure and supporting clear vision. The soup tastes fresh and naturally sweet — fine for all ages. People with gout should limit themselves to the broth and skip the shellfish.