Herbal Pork and Chestnuts Broth

Soup Name: Herbal Pork and Chestnuts Broth

Traditional Chinese Name: (qng zh g tng)

Introduction:

This Chinese soup is a warm soup that is ideal for the incoming autumn and winter months. Its a bit warming, helps nourish the body and provides moisture as the dryer seasons roll around. This is a soup that is an easy make (especially when youre short on fresh fruits or vegetables) as most of the ingredients are dried. Its naturally sweet and with the addition of ginger slices, can be used for confinement.

What ingredients are required?

1 pound freshpork shank
2 pieces of dried large snails or abalone
15 fresh chestnuts
5 honey dates
1 tablespoon of dried wolfberries
20 pieces of dried longan
5-6 pieces of dried Chinese yam
1 tablespoon of fox seeds
2 L of water

How do I prepare it?

Blanch the pork shank and dried snail or abalone in boiling water for 3-5 minutes

Boil your soup water

In the same pot you used to blanch the meat, boil the chestnuts for 8 minutes on high heat

Pour the chestnuts into a strainer and while still hot, remove the outer peel and skin of the chestnuts (use a towel if necessary as it is really hot)

When you soup water bo! ils, add all the ingredients together

Boil on high for 30 minutes and reduce to a medium boil for another hour

Serve and enjoy!

Any benefits?

• Naturally sweet and packed with anti-oxidants
• Snails help nourish the Yin and improve kidney functions and eye sight
• Slightly warm and excellent for children and pregnancies
• Contains ingredients that are readily available in the Chinese repertoire of soup ingredients

Any precautions?

• Be sure to rinse all dried ingredients thorough (especially fox nuts as they are highly processed)

1 tablespoon of fox seeds