老火湯LO FO TONG

All soups › Heat-clearing

Abrus (canton love-pea vine) soup with pork pancreas

雞骨草豬橫脷湯
soothes the liverdispels dampnesscools internal fireSpringAll year slow-boiled · 2 hours Not yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Ingredients

百子櫃Canton love-pea vine· remove the seed pods, the seeds are poisonous and must be taken out75 g
百子櫃Pork pancreas1
百子櫃Rice bean40 g (1 tael)
百子櫃Candied honey date3
街市Lean pork300 g
百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel1 piece
街市Fresh ginger2 slices

Method

  1. Strip every seed pod off the 雞骨草, soak and rinse out the grit, and tie it into a bundle.
  2. Scrape the white fat off the pork pancreas, then blanch it (飛水, a quick boil to clear the scum) together with the lean pork.
  3. Soak and rinse the 赤小豆.
  4. Bring 2.5 litres of water to the boil over high heat and add everything.
  5. Once it returns to the boil, turn down to low heat and simmer for 2 hours.
  6. Season with salt and it is ready.

Who it suits

  • late nights
  • a bitter taste in the mouth and bad breath
  • damp heat and liver fire

Who should take care

  • not for pregnant women
  • people who run weak and cold should be careful
  • the seeds of 雞骨草 are poisonous, the seed pods must be removed
  • people with gout or high uric acid should drink only a little, long-simmered meat soups are high in purines (general warning across this collection)

Soup stories

A standby recipe from the Cantonese herbal tea and medicine shops. 豬橫脷 (pork pancreas) is the traditional partner here, said to look after the liver and strengthen the spleen.

From the same family

Winter melon, dried shrimp and glass noodle soupNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
冬瓜蝦米粉絲湯（滾冬瓜湯）
clears heatdispels dampnesspromotes water metabolismSummer
街市Winter melon· about 600 g (1 catty)百子櫃Dried small shrimp· 1 to 2 tablespoons百子櫃Mung bean vermicelli· 1 bunch百子櫃Dried shiitake mushroom· 2 to 3街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Angled loofah, cloud ear fungus and pork slice soupA$7–15
勝瓜雲耳肉片湯（絲瓜滾湯）
clears heatcools internal fireeases the bowelsSummer
街市Angled loofah· 1 to 2百子櫃Cloud ear fungus· 1 small handful街市Lean pork· about 150 to 200 g街市Fresh ginger· 2 to 3 slices

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Yellowcress (marsh cress) and snakehead fish soupNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
塘葛菜生魚湯
clears heatdispels dampnessmoistens the lungsSpringSummerAll year
百子櫃Yellowcress / marsh cress· 300 g百子櫃Snakehead fish· 1, about 600 g (1 catty)街市Lean pork· 300 g百子櫃Candied honey date· 2百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel· 1 piece街市Fresh ginger· 3 slices

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

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.