Fresh Yam, Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb, Poria and Longan Soup

Why people make this soup

Nourilo here. With the Olympics wrapped up, plenty of people no longer need to stay up chasing results — but after a stretch of late nights the body’s clock doesn’t always reset to easy sleep right away. A good time, then, for a gentle soup to help settle the mind. Fresh yam with fresh lotus seed, poria, lily bulb and longan makes a soup traditionally associated with nourishing yin, moistening dryness and calming the spirit — well suited to people who feel run-down and short of breath.

Method

1. Peel and rinse the fresh yam and cut into pieces. Remove the core from the fresh lotus seeds. Soak and rinse the lily bulb and poria. Blanch the pork ribs.
2. Cook all the ingredients in 2.4 L of water for about an hour and a half, reducing to 1.2 L. Serve.

Nourilo’s Tips

Fresh yam contains a mucilage that can irritate and sting the skin while peeling — wear gloves to peel it, or rinse it and blanch it briefly in boiling water first, then peel, to avoid skin irritation. If you would rather skip the meat, add some snow fungus instead.