老火湯LO FO TONG

All soups › Nourishing tonics

Fish maw and conch soup with Chinese yam, goji and chicken feet

花膠響螺頭淮山杞子雞腳湯
nourishes yinnourishes the complexionsupports the kidneysreplenishes qinourishes bloodWinter slow-boiled · 3 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)· soaked to rehydrate2 to 4
百子櫃Dried conch / sea snail head· dried or frozen 響螺頭2
百子櫃Dried Chinese yam· dried40 g (1 tael)
百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry12 g (3 mace)
百子櫃Dried longan flesh12 g (3 mace)
街市Chicken feet8
街市Lean pork300 g
百子櫃Red jujube date· pitted4
街市Fresh ginger2 slices

Method

  1. Soak the 花膠 (fish maw) ahead of time to rehydrate it. Soak dried 響螺頭 (sea whelk) until soft, or thaw it if frozen
  2. Trim the nails off the chicken feet and blanch them with the lean pork (汆水, a quick boil to clean off blood and scum)
  3. Wash the 淮山 (dried Chinese yam), 杞子 (goji berries), 圓肉 (dried longan) and 紅棗 (red dates)
  4. Put everything in with the ginger slices and 3 litres of water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat
  5. Turn the heat low, simmer for 2.5 to 3 hours and season with salt

Who it suits

  • after childbirth
  • feeling run down
  • skin that has lost its bounce

Who should take care

  • avoid tonics while a cold has not fully cleared
  • people with weak digestion should have only a small amount
  • gout sufferers should avoid this
  • not suitable after childbirth or during a period (螺頭); breastfeeding mothers must not eat 花膠 straight after giving birth (risk of blocked ducts)

Soup stories

The Hong Kong family beauty soup, and a soup for Lunar New Year and festival days. The grade of 花膠 you put in it is where a household’s face is at stake over the new year.

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.