老火湯LO FO TONG

All soups › Spleen-strengthening

Lion's mane mushroom soup with Chinese yam and figs

猴頭菇淮山無花果瘦肉湯
strengthens the spleenwhets the appetiteeases indigestionreplenishes qiAll year slow-boiled · 2 hours A$17–25

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

Ingredients

百子櫃Lion's mane mushroom (dried)· soaked to swell and torn into pieces2
百子櫃Dried Chinese yam· dried40 g (1 tael)
百子櫃Dried fig4
百子櫃Dried longan flesh8 g (2 mace)
百子櫃Candied honey date2
街市Lean pork· or half a dressed chicken, or 8 chicken feet300 g

Method

  1. Soak the lion's mane mushrooms in clean water for about 2 hours, squeeze them dry and tear them into pieces.
  2. Cut the lean pork into large pieces and blanch it (汆水, a quick boil to draw out blood and scum), then set it aside.
  3. Rinse the dried Chinese yam, figs, dried longan and honey dates.
  4. Put everything in the pot with 2.5 litres of water and bring to the boil over high heat.
  5. Turn down to low, simmer for 2 hours and season with salt.

Who it suits

  • an unsettled stomach
  • a weak stomach
  • poor appetite

Who should take care

  • People with gout or high uric acid should go easy on long-boiled meat soups

Soup stories

猴頭菇 lion's mane is known as the king of mushrooms, and it is the first soup Hong Kong people reach for when their stomach is unsettled. It is often boiled with 姬松茸 almond mushroom and chicken feet as well.

From the same family

"ABC soup" — tomato, potato, carrot and corn soup with porkA$12–20
ABC湯(番茄薯仔紅蘿蔔粟米瘦肉湯)
whets the appetiteeases indigestionstrengthens the spleenAll year
街市Tomato· 3街市Potato· 2街市Carrot· 1街市Corn / maize (with corn silk)· 1街市Onion· half街市Lean pork· 600 g

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

Shiitake mushroom, carrot and red date soup with lean porkA$7–12
冬菇紅蘿蔔紅棗瘦肉湯
strengthens the spleenwhets the appetitereplenishes qiAll year
百子櫃Dried shiitake mushroom· 6 to 8街市Carrot· 2百子櫃Red jujube date· 6街市Lean pork· 300 g街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices

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

Chayote, corn and carrot soup with pork ribsNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
合掌瓜粟米紅蘿蔔排骨湯
relieves drynessstrengthens the spleenwhets the appetiteAll year
街市Chayote· 2街市Corn / maize (with corn silk)· 1 to 2街市Carrot· 1街市Pork spare ribs· 350 to 600 g百子櫃Candied honey date· 2百子櫃Dried scallop (conpoy)· 2… +1

“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.