All soups › Family classics
Double-boiled fish head with gastrodia, ligusticum and angelica dahurica
“Simmered the whole day, nothing held back.”
Ingredientsone pot, serves 4
Method
Double-boil (隔水燉, the covered pot sits in a pan of simmering water): put the fish head and herbs in the double-boiling pot, pour in boiling water to just cover, put the lid on and seal it with cling film (traditionally 紗紙, a thin gauze paper), then sit it in a pan of boiling water (the water coming one third to halfway up the side of the pot) for 1 to 3 hours. The Ming Pao medicinal cookery version is done in 60 minutes, while the dessert house version goes the full 3 hours. Salt goes in last. Taken for the specific complaint, twice a week.
- Wash the bighead carp head and split it, then pan-fry it in an oiled wok with the ginger until fragrant, which makes it smell better and taste less fishy.
- Steam the 天麻 (gastrodia) until soft and slice it; rinse the 川芎 (Sichuan lovage) and 白芷 (Dahurian angelica).
- Put everything in the double-boiling pot and pour in boiling water to just cover.
- Seal the pot and double-boil (隔水燉, the covered pot sits in a pan of simmering water) for 1 to 3 hours; 60 minutes is already enough.
- Season with salt and drink it hot; twice a week.
Who it suits
- vascular headache
- stubborn headaches and dizziness
- headaches around menstruation
- post-natal headaches from blood depletion and exposure to wind
Who should take care
- Gastrodia is not suitable for a headache caused by a cold or chill
- Pregnant women should take care (Sichuan lovage moves the blood)
- Those with yin depletion and rising fire should take care
- People with poor kidney function should be cautious taking gastrodia
- Do not take double-boiled tonics while a cold has not fully cleared (applies across this collection)
Soup stories
The best known of the targeted double-boiled soups. Gastrodia with fish head follows the traditional like treats like idea of using a head to nourish a head. It is a signature recipe of the TVB cook 肥媽, and 尚品 and confinement nanny suppliers sell it as a ready-made double-boiling pack for post-natal head wind.
From the same family
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.