Fresh Yam, Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb, Sour Jujube and Longan Soup

Why people make this soup

When money worries and a heavy mind keep you awake, Nourilo reaches for a quiet, comforting bowl like this one. It is the kind of soup our parents simmered to “settle the nerves” after a hard stretch — mild, slightly herbal, but easy to drink. The idea is simple: nourish the spleen and the heart so the mind has somewhere to rest at night.

Method

1. Peel the fresh yam and cut into chunks. Rinse the lotus seeds, lily bulb, sour jujube seed, arborvitae seed and longan.
2. Cut the pork into chunks and blanch in boiling water.
3. Put everything in a pot with 2.7 L of water, bring up and simmer for 2 hours until reduced to about 1.2 L. Serve.

Nourilo’s Tips

This soup has a faint herbal note but goes down easily — even the elderly and children will not turn it away. Just remember: do not drink it while a cold has not yet cleared. If you only have dried yam, use about 38 g (38 g); that quantity still serves four.