老火湯LO FO TONG

All soups › Heat-clearing

Amaranth (Chinese spinach) and tofu soup

莧菜豆腐湯
clears heatnourishes bloodSummer quick-boiled · 15 minutes A$4–5

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Ingredients

街市Amaranth greens· trim the roots and wash; sliced garlic is the classic pairing (optional)1 bunch
百子櫃Tofu1 block
街市Fresh ginger1 to 2 slices

Method

A fast-boil soup: ingredients go in once the water boils. 莧菜 cooks very fast, so put it in late to keep it from going to mush.

  1. Bring about 1.2 litres of water to the boil
  2. Add the ginger slices, the 莧菜 (amaranth greens) and the 豆腐 (tofu)
  3. Boil over medium-high heat for 10 to 15 minutes
  4. Season with salt

Who it suits

  • summer days when you feel heaty or have mouth ulcers
  • 莧菜 for iron and calcium (the folk saying is that it builds blood), 豆腐 for protein

Who should take care

  • people with cold, weak digestion (脾胃虛寒) should drink only a little

Soup stories

Alongside 節瓜 soup, this is the default family fast-boil from June to September. The red 莧菜 version dyes the soup pink, a childhood memory Hong Kong food writers bring up again and again.

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.