All soups › Nourishing tonics

Coconut, red date and chicken soup

椰子紅棗雞湯

replenishes qinourishes bloodrelieves drynessstrengthens the spleenpostpartum nourishmentWinterAll year slow-boiled · 2.5 hours A$43–45

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

Ingredients

街市Coconut· take the flesh and cut it into strips1

街市Old hen (stewing chicken)· a dressed chicken, skinned and blanched1

百子櫃Red jujube date· pitted6

百子櫃Dried longan flesh12 g (3 mace)

百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry8 g (2 mace)

街市Fresh ginger2 slices

Method

Crack the coconut open, take out the flesh and cut it into strips, keeping the coconut water to use.
Skin the dressed chicken and blanch it (汆水, a quick boil to draw out blood and scum).
Rinse the red dates, dried longan and goji berries.
Put everything in the pot with the ginger slices and 2.5 litres of water, and bring to the boil over high heat.
Turn down to low, simmer for 2 to 2.5 hours and season with salt.

Who it suits

low qi and blood
dizziness and tiredness
a pale complexion
after childbirth

Who should take care

Not when you are dry, heaty or flaring up

Soup stories

Coconut chicken is the sweet, fragrant tonic soup of Hong Kong households, and fresh coconut water often goes in for extra sweetness.

From the same family

Double-boiled lean pork with ginseng and dendrobiumA$12–66

人參石斛燉瘦肉

replenishes qinourishes yinmoistens the lungsAll year

百子櫃Korean red ginseng· 8 g百子櫃Dendrobium stem· 12 g街市Lean pork· 300 g百子櫃Candied honey date· 4街市Fresh ginger· 4 slices

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

Double-boiled chicken with cordycepsNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

冬蟲夏草燉雞

supports the kidneysreplenishes qisoothes cough3h slow fireWinter

百子櫃Cordyceps· 3 to 5 pieces, about 2 to 3 g街市Fresh chicken (whole or half)· half街市Lean pork· 100 g街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices

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

Double-boiled teal with cordycepsNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

冬蟲草燉水鴨

moistens the lungssupports the kidneyssoothes cough3.5h slow fireWinter

百子櫃Cordyceps· 3 to 5 pieces百子櫃Teal (small wild-type duck)· 1百子櫃Dried fig· 2百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel· a quarter piece街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices

“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.