Fresh Chinese Yam, Lotus Seed, Euryale and Tangerine Peel Soup

Why people make this soup

City life is stressful — long hours, tension, overthinking, and irregular meals — and in the food-therapy tradition this is exactly the recipe for a “weak spleen qi.” Nourilo sees the familiar signs: poor appetite, bloating after eating, loose stools, tiredness, dull complexion, drooling in sleep. As the old saying goes, “when the spleen and stomach weaken, a hundred ills arise.” This gentle soup is offered for those who notice such signs and want to rebuild patiently.

Method

1. Peel the fresh yam and cut into sections; remove the cores from the fresh lotus seeds; soak and rinse the euryale and tangerine peel; pit the red dates.
2. Add everything to 2.1 L of water and simmer 1 hour, reducing to 1.2 L.
3. Serve, eating the soup and the ingredients together.

Nourilo’s Tips

This soup is fragrant and tasty, fine for all ages. If you have no fresh yam or fresh lotus seeds, dried ones (about 38 g each) work. If there is heaviness from dampness plus poor sleep, add about 19 g of poria (fu ling). But those prone to constipation should not take too much.