Soups
Snow Fungus, Honeydew & Chicken Feet Soup
Traditionally used to moisten and nourish the skin
Why people make this soup
Supermarkets sometimes mark down honeydew melons; even when they aren’t very sweet, they’re lovely for desserts or soups. The famous “Jazz Soup” uses melon as its main ingredient along with conch, chicken, dried scallop and chicken feet. Bro Niu keeps it simpler here — snow fungus, carrot and chicken feet — for a clear, naturally sweet soup the whole family can share, traditionally enjoyed to moisten and nourish the skin and ease autumn dryness.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- The whole family; traditionally favored for moistening, nourishing skin, and easing autumn dryness
- Honeydew is considered cooling; women hoping to conceive may prefer warmer soups, but an occasional bowl is no problem
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Snow fungus (xue er): traditionally moistening for the skin and lungs
- Honeydew melon (mi gua): traditionally associated with promoting urination and easing puffiness; lends natural sweetness
- Carrot (gan sun): adds sweetness and nourishment
- Chicken feet & pork ribs: rich in collagen-style gelatin, traditionally favored for skin
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Snow fungus (xue er) | ~8 g (2 qian) | Soak, trim base |
| Honeydew melon (mi gua) | 1/3 melon | Peeled, seeded, cut into chunks |
| Carrot (gan sun) | 1 | Peeled, cut into chunks |
| Chicken feet (ji jiao) | 4 pairs | Blanched; trim a little of the claws |
| Pork ribs (pai gu) | ~225 g (6 liang) | Blanched |
| Ginger (sheng jiang) | 2 slices |
Method
- Soak the snow fungus and trim the base; peel, seed and chunk the honeydew; peel and chunk the carrot.
- Blanch the chicken feet and pork ribs.
- Put everything in a pot with about 8 bowls of water and simmer about 2 hours, down to roughly 4 bowls. Drink the soup and eat the ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
Honeydew is traditionally associated with promoting urination; juicing honeydew with a few drops of lemon and drinking it is said to help rough skin and ease puffiness. For the chicken feet, trim a little of the claws so they look nicer — if you cut too much, oil may float on the surface, which you can just skim off.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (reader): Can I use yellow fungus (huang er) instead of snow fungus? How much? Bro Niu: You can use about 11 g of yellow fungus instead, but it must soak in water for at least half a day to soften properly.
- Q (reader): Is the honeydew the cantaloupe (hami gua) type? Bro Niu: American honeydew or cantaloupe both work.
- Q (reader): If I don’t use honeydew, what can I substitute? Bro Niu: You can use apple or snow pear instead; papaya is just as moistening.
Published August 28, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
