Snow Fungus, Papaya, Fig and Lean Pork Soup

Why people make this soup

In Cantonese home cooking, there is a category of soup that people reach for not because they are acutely ill but because life feels a little dry — dry skin in winter, a nagging dry cough that won’t quite leave, or a digestion that moves a little too slowly. This snow fungus, papaya and fig soup fits squarely into that tradition. It is light and clear-tasting rather than heavy or oily, yet each ingredient brings something worthwhile to the pot. Because it is gentle and nourishing rather than cooling or strongly medicinal, it is one of those soups the whole family — children included — can enjoy together.

Method

1. Soak the snow fungus in cold water for about 30 minutes until fully expanded and soft. Trim off and discard any hard yellowish stem ends, and tear into smaller pieces.
2. Peel the papaya, remove the seeds, and cut the flesh into large chunks.
3. Rinse the figs, red dates, lean pork and tangerine peel. The pork can be briefly blanched in boiling water to remove any impurities, then rinsed.
4. Add all prepared ingredients to a pot with enough water to cover generously.
5. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for approximately one hour.
6. Season lightly if desired and serve. The soup pieces can be eaten alongside the broth.

Nourilo’s Tips

The key distinction to be aware of when buying papaya for this soup: the sweet, ripe orange papaya is for eating fresh or making desserts. What you want for this soup is the firmer, less ripe cooking variety — sometimes called “green papaya” or labelled as a cooking papaya, available at Chinese or Asian grocers. This version contains more of the enzymes and compounds that traditionally support the stomach lining, and it holds its shape much better during a long simmer. If you are adding extras, chicken feet work very well in this soup and add body; or replace the papaya with fresh yam for a different flavour combination. One reader asked whether fresh lily bulb could be added — yes, it can, and it has the additional benefit of calming the mind and helping with sleep.