老火湯LO FO TONG

All soups › Lung-moistening

Green radish and carrot soup with dried tangerine peel and pork bones

青紅蘿蔔陳皮豬骨湯
clears heatmoistens the lungseases indigestionresolves phlegmbrightens the eyesAutumnWinter slow-boiled · 2.5 hours Not yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

“The pot Ah Ma keeps for her night owls.”

Ingredients

街市Green radish2, about 600 g (1 catty)
街市Carrot1
街市Corn / maize (with corn silk)· optional1
百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel1 piece
百子櫃Candied honey date2
街市Pork bones (femur / blade)· or pork shin; traditionally pork tongue is also used, making 青紅蘿蔔豬脷湯600 g (1 catty)

Method

  1. Peel the green radish and the carrot and roll-cut them into chunks. Soak the dried tangerine peel until soft and scrape off the white pith.
  2. Blanch the pork bones (汆水, a quick boil to clear the scum) and set them aside.
  3. Put everything in the pot with 3 litres of water and bring to the boil over high heat.
  4. Turn down to low heat and simmer for 2 to 2.5 hours, then season with salt.

Who it suits

  • a heavy, over-full stomach
  • lots of phlegm
  • feeling hot and dry

Who should take care

  • people low in qi should be careful (radish is said to break up qi)
  • people currently taking tonic herbs should be careful (radish is said to break up qi)
  • people with a weak, cold digestion should drink only a little
  • people with gout or high uric acid should drink only a little long-simmered meat soup

Soup stories

青紅蘿蔔湯 is shorthand for the taste of home in Hong Kong. The folk logic that radish settles the stomach and moves things along makes it the clean-up pot after a festival feast, and it is the top standby of autumn and winter when radish is in season.

From the same family

Double-boiled bird's nest with rock sugarA$17–35
冰糖燉燕窩
nourishes yinrelieves drynessmoistens the lungsAll yearAutumn
百子櫃Edible bird's nest· 1 dried nest (about 5 to 8 g)百子櫃Rock sugar· to taste

“The pot Ah Ma keeps for her night owls.”

Double-boiled pear with rock sugar (with fritillary for cough)A$2–7
冰糖燉雪梨 (川貝燉雪梨)
moistens the lungssoothes coughclears heatAutumn
街市Asian pear / snow pear· 1 to 2百子櫃Rock sugar· to taste百子櫃Tendrilleaf fritillary bulb· 8 g (2 mace)

“The pot Ah Ma keeps for her night owls.”

Chayote and pork slice soup (milky prawn version)Not yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
合掌瓜肉片湯（奶白合掌瓜大蝦肉片湯）
moistens the lungssoothes coughresolves phlegmAutumnWinterSummer
街市Chayote· 2街市Large prawns (fresh, head-on)· 4 to 6街市Lean pork· 200 g百子櫃Dried scallop (conpoy)· 10百子櫃Dried whole shrimp (large)· 4街市Fresh ginger· 3 slices

“The pot Ah Ma keeps for her night owls.”

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.