老火湯LO FO TONG

All soups › Spleen-strengthening

"ABC soup" — tomato, potato, carrot and corn soup with pork

ABC湯(番茄薯仔紅蘿蔔粟米瘦肉湯)
whets the appetiteeases indigestionstrengthens the spleenAll year slow-boiled · 1.5 hours A$12–20

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”

Ingredients

街市Tomato3
街市Potato2
街市Carrot1
街市Corn / maize (with corn silk)1
街市Onion· optionalhalf
街市Lean pork· or pork bones600 g

Method

  1. Peel the tomatoes, potatoes and carrot and cut them into chunks; cut the corn into rounds.
  2. Cut the lean pork into large pieces and blanch it (汆水, a quick boil that draws out the blood and scum), then set aside.
  3. Put everything in the pot, add 2.5 litres of water and bring to the boil over high heat.
  4. Turn the heat to low and simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours, then season with salt.

Who it suits

  • children
  • older adults
  • everyday family soup

Who should take care

  • People with excess stomach acid should drink only a little (tomato)
  • People with gout or high uric acid should limit long-boiled meat soups

Soup stories

Named after vitamins A, B and C. It is a mid twentieth century Hong Kong home invention that married Chinese and Western cooking, and it is now fully part of the canon, the first soup nearly every Hong Kong child meets.

From the same family

Shiitake mushroom, carrot and red date soup with lean porkA$7–12
冬菇紅蘿蔔紅棗瘦肉湯
strengthens the spleenwhets the appetitereplenishes qiAll year
百子櫃Dried shiitake mushroom· 6 to 8街市Carrot· 2百子櫃Red jujube date· 6街市Lean pork· 300 g街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”

Chayote, corn and carrot soup with pork ribsNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
合掌瓜粟米紅蘿蔔排骨湯
relieves drynessstrengthens the spleenwhets the appetiteAll year
街市Chayote· 2街市Corn / maize (with corn silk)· 1 to 2街市Carrot· 1街市Pork spare ribs· 350 to 600 g百子櫃Candied honey date· 2百子櫃Dried scallop (conpoy)· 2… +1

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”

Double-boiled lean pork and conch with prince ginsengA$19–28
太子參螺頭燉瘦肉
replenishes qistrengthens the spleennourishes yinAll year
百子櫃Prince ginseng· 12 g (3 mace)百子櫃Dried conch / sea snail head· 1街市Lean pork· 150 g百子櫃Dried Chinese yam· 12 g (3 mace)百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry· 4 g (1 mace)百子櫃Candied honey date· 1

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”

Lo Fo Tong is cultural food-heritage reference, not medical advice. If you are pregnant, unwell or on medication, talk to your doctor or registered practitioner before changing what is in the pot.