Fresh Chinese Yam, Corn Silk, Carrot and Dried Geoduck Clam Soup

Why people make this soup

A stroll down the dried seafood street is always an adventure — and when Nourilo spotted dried geoduck clam on the shelves, he was intrigued. He’d been enjoying fresh geoduck regularly for its crisp, ocean-fresh flavour (magnificent steamed with garlic, ginger, shallot, dried shrimp paste, and fermented black beans), but had never tried the dried variety in a broth. Half 600 g later, he can confirm: the dried geoduck makes a beautifully sweet, deeply savoury soup. Geoduck is traditionally associated in Chinese food therapy with nourishing the liver and kidney, making it a natural fit for this health-focused soup alongside corn silk — the silky threads from fresh corn cobs, which have been used in both Cantonese food therapy and in herbal medicine research for their kidney-supportive properties — and fresh Chinese yam, which is associated with blood sugar regulation. Together, this is a soup that people managing diabetes, mild fluid retention, or high blood pressure may find particularly valuable as part of their regular rotation.