Lily Bulb Polygonatum Dried-Conch Soup (bai he yu zhu xiang luo gan tang)

Why people make this soup

City life frays the nerves, and Nourilo says the most common complaint he hears is poor sleep. When sleep runs short, people feel jittery and moody, with a dry mouth, a dry sore throat and warm palms and soles. This soup of lily bulb, polygonatum and dried conch is moistening and calming — traditionally it nourishes yin and settles the mind, a gentle bowl for those whose restlessness comes with that dry, depleted feeling.

Method

1. Soak and rinse the dried conch, lily bulb and the other ingredients.
2. Put everything in a pot with 1.8 L of water and simmer about 2 hours down to 0.9–1.2 L. Serve.

Nourilo’s Tips

This soup calms the mind and traditionally moistens the throat and eases a dry cough — but it is not for a cold-type cough or a cough from a cold/flu. Nourilo likes a flat, amber-brown dried conch with a glossy, lively sheen.