Fresh Lotus Seed and Lily Bulb Pork Soup

Why people make this soup

Fresh lotus seeds and fresh lily bulbs are delicious in sweet soups, desserts, or savory soups, and are traditionally associated with clearing the heart, moistening the lungs, and calming the mind. During big sporting seasons many people stay up late watching matches, and short sleep takes a real toll, often bringing on yin-deficiency heat signs: puffy gums, mouth ulcers, hot palms and soles, dry throat, hoarse dry cough, restlessness and palpitations. This soup is a gentle way to nourish yin and settle things back down.

Method

1. Wash the fresh lotus seeds and lily bulb separately; blanch the lean pork.
2. Put the pork and lotus seeds in the pot first with 1.8 L of water and simmer about 40 minutes.
3. Add the fresh lily bulb and boil 5 to 6 minutes more. Drink the soup and eat the ingredients.

Nourilo’s Tips

If you can’t find fresh, use dried: 75 g lotus seed and 38 g lily bulb, but cook longer — 2.4 L of water simmered 2 hours down to 4. For a sweet-soup version, leave out the pork and add 3 to 4 figs or honey dates; a couple of pieces of snow fungus makes it even nicer.