Double-boiled papaya with snow fungus

Ingredientsone pot, serves 4

Method

Double-boil (隔水燉, the covered pot sits in a pan of simmering water): first melt the rock sugar into a syrup. Put the papaya, snow fungus and sweet and bitter apricot kernels in the double-boiling pot and pour in about 1200 ml of syrup in total, 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 hour, until the snow fungus turns gelatinous.

1. Soak the snow fungus until it swells, snip off the hard base, tear it into small florets and blanch it (飛水, a quick boil).
2. Peel and deseed the papaya and cut it into pieces, half ripe is best; rinse the sweet and bitter apricot kernels.
3. Melt the rock sugar in water to make a syrup.
4. Put everything in the double-boiling pot with the syrup, seal the pot and double-boil (隔水燉, set in a pan of simmering water) for 1 hour until the snow fungus turns gelatinous.
5. Good served hot or cold.

Who it suits

• yin depletion with dry lungs
• dry skin
• women wanting to soften their skin and look after their complexion

Who should take care

• Those with a weak cold digestion and loose stools should eat only a little
• People with diabetes should watch the sugar
• The papaya enzyme is debated for pregnancy; ripe papaya is generally considered acceptable

Soup stories

The poor man's bird's nest. The gel that snow fungus gives up mimics the texture of bird's nest at pocket money prices. It is a fixture on the menu at both sweet soup shops and dessert houses.

From the same family

Double-boiled bird's nest with rock sugarDouble-boiled pear with rock sugar (with fritillary for cough)Chayote and pork slice soup (milky prawn version)

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.