All soups › Spleen-strengthening
Double-boiled lean pork and conch with prince ginseng
“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”
Ingredientsone pot, serves 4
Method
Double-boil (隔水燉, the covered pot sits in a pan of simmering water): in a small household pot pour in about 500 ml of 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 2 to 3 hours. Salt goes in last.
- Soak the dried conch, or conch slices, until softened and wash it clean; rinse the 太子參 (prince ginseng), Chinese yam, goji berries and honey date.
- Cut the lean pork into pieces and blanch it (汆水, a quick boil that draws out the blood and scum).
- Put everything in the double-boiling pot and pour in about 500 ml of boiling water.
- Seal the pot and double-boil (隔水燉, the covered pot sits in a pan of simmering water) for 2 to 3 hours.
- Season with a little salt and it is ready.
Who it suits
- children over 1 year old who are frail and eat poorly
- catching colds easily and sweating without effort
- restless sleep
- suits adults too
Who should take care
- Avoid while a cold has not fully cleared
- Children should not be given tonics blindly; 太子參 (prince ginseng, also called 孩兒參) is the only qi-building ginseng routinely used for children
- People with gout should take care (purines from the conch, a seafood)
Soup stories
太子參 literally means the children's ginseng, and it is the first herb Hong Kong mothers reach for when a child has no appetite after being ill. The morel and prince ginseng double-boiled soup sold in dried goods shops is the upgraded version.
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.