Fresh Yam, Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb, Almond and Pork-Lung Soup

Why people make this soup

Paired with fresh yam, fresh lotus seed and lily bulb, this soup is traditionally enjoyed to support digestion and the lungs, and is a kind choice for anyone with a weak spleen-stomach who feels restless or sleeps poorly. A single pork lung makes a generous pot — it splits nicely over two batches of soup. Fresh lotus seeds, available at Chinese or Asian grocers when in season, make the broth wonderfully sweet.

Method

1. Peel and cut the yam; core and rinse the lotus seeds; soak and rinse the lily bulb and apricot kernels.
2. Clean and cut the pork lung, then blanch; blanch the lean pork.
3. Put everything in 2.7 L of water and simmer 2 hours down to 1.2–1.5 L. Serve.

Nourilo’s Tips

Sweet and tasty, suitable for young and old; also valued by those with a weaker chest or sluggish digestion. If you tend toward hard, dry stools, hold off on yam and lotus seed — first try a soup such as night-blooming-cereus (ba wang hua) with carrot and corn, and add the yam and lotus seed only once things have eased.