American Ginseng, Ophiopogon & Lotus Seed Pork Soup

Why people make this soup

In traditional Chinese food therapy, the early stage of hyperthyroidism is thought to involve excess liver fire, and over time this heat is said to deplete yin — the body’s cooling, moistening energy. When heart yin is drained, the classic signs appear: a racing or irregular heart, a sense of fluttering in the chest, restlessness, and poor sleep. This soup brings together a few ingredients that generations of Cantonese households have turned to for exactly that kind of inner restlessness — something warming in spirit but cooling in effect, gentle enough to share with the whole family.

Method

1. Rinse the fresh lotus seeds and set aside; briefly soak and rinse the ophiopogon root; pit the red dates; blanch the lean pork in boiling water for a minute or two, drain.
2. Bring 2.1 L of water to a boil in a pot. Add the lotus seeds, ophiopogon, ginger, red dates, and pork.
3. Simmer over medium-low heat for 50 minutes.
4. Slice the American ginseng thinly and add it to the pot. Simmer for a further 5 minutes only, then turn off the heat. Serve.

Nourilo’s Tips

Fresh lotus seeds with the core intact give the best results. If you cannot find fresh lotus seeds, substitute dried lotus seeds with the core still attached (you wu xin lian zi) — use about 40 g (38 g). You can also add 40 g of dried lily bulb (bai he) to the pot; it deepens the calming, heart-nourishing effect.

American ginseng should always go in last and cook only briefly — prolonged boiling destroys some of its beneficial compounds.