Chinese Yam, Goji and Dried Scallop Double-Boiled Sea Cucumber

Why people make this soup

Sea cucumber carries no cholesterol and is traditionally valued for nourishing both kidney yin and kidney yang, so it suits men and women alike. Nourilo once knew a woman past fifty whose skin was remarkably smooth and youthful — she ate sea cucumber almost daily. The lesson, though, is balance: she even ate it through colds and ended up with such digestive stagnation that she needed hospital care. Enjoyed sensibly, this double-boiled soup is traditionally used to strengthen the spleen, nourish the kidneys and support a smooth complexion, and it suits people with rough, dry skin and brittle hair.

Method

1. Blanch the pork shank and sea cucumber. Rinse the remaining ingredients.
2. Put everything into a double-boiling pot (stewing vessel).
3. Pour in 0.9–1.2 L of boiling water.
4. Double-boil about 3 hours. Drink the soup and eat the ingredients.

Nourilo’s Tips

This is a nourishing soup, traditionally helpful for menopausal women, after childbirth or surgery, and for couples hoping to conceive. It can be taken regularly. Note that some sea cucumber dissolves easily, so it is best suited to gentle double-boiling rather than a high-pressure cooker; even if it dissolves, the soup is still nourishing.