Purslane Egg-Drop Pork Soup

Why people make this soup

Workers in dusty environments — quarries, construction sites, mines — have long sought food-therapy recipes to support their lungs. Purslane (ma chi xian) is a succulent leafy green you can find in Chinese markets and increasingly in farmers’ markets in the West; it has a mildly sour, refreshing flavour. In traditional Chinese food therapy it is associated with clearing heat, relieving toxicity, and supporting the body’s defences at the cellular level. Paired with lean pork for protein and egg for nourishment, this is a quick, family-friendly soup that goes well beyond its humble ingredients.