老火湯LO FO TONG

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Double-boiled fresh milk with fish maw

花膠燉鮮奶
nourishes yinrelieves drynessnourishes the complexioncalms the spiritstrengthens the spleenAutumnWinterAll year double-boiled · 3.5 hours Not yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

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

Ingredients

百子櫃Fish maw (dried swim bladder)· soak for 2 days and nights, changing the water often, then steep soft in boiling water4 pieces of 白花膠
街市Fresh milk1 litre
百子櫃Rock sugar· 紅棗, 蓮子 or 桃膠 are often double-boiled in with it50 g

Method

Double-boiled (隔水燉, the covered jar stands in a pot of water rather than sitting on the heat): put the 花膠, milk and 冰糖 in the jar, put the lid on and seal it with cling film (traditionally 紗紙, mulberry paper). Stand it in a pot of boiling water, with the water a third to halfway up the jar, and double-boil for 3 to 4 hours. A quick version of 45 minutes to 1 hour is also common. Top up with boiling water as you go. This makes a family-size jar, so halve it for a two-person jar.

  1. Soak the 白花膠 (white fish maw) ahead of time for 2 days and nights, changing the water often, then steep it soft in boiling water, wash it and cut it into pieces.
  2. Put the 花膠 in the double-boil jar, pour in 1 litre of milk and add the 冰糖 (rock sugar). 紅棗, 蓮子 or 桃膠 are optional.
  3. Seal the jar and double-boil for 3 to 4 hours.
  4. Serve it hot in the jar it was cooked in.

Who it suits

  • women looking after their complexion
  • prenatal care in pregnancy
  • trouble sleeping and a restless mind

Who should take care

  • people who are lactose intolerant should avoid this
  • avoid while a cold has not fully cleared
  • people with heavy phlegm damp should eat only a little

Soup stories

A double-boil shop signature. 湯譜 Soupday in Central built its name on this beauty-minded 花膠 double-boiled with milk. It is a marriage between the Cantonese double-boiled milk dessert craft and the 花膠 tonic tradition, leaning towards dessert but sold on the soup board.

From the same family

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.