老火湯LO FO TONG

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Winter melon, dried shrimp and glass noodle soup

冬瓜蝦米粉絲湯(滾冬瓜湯)
clears heatdispels dampnesspromotes water metabolismSummer quick-boiled · 24 minutes Not yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Ingredients

街市Winter melon· peeled and cut into chunks or slices, boiled until translucentabout 600 g (1 catty)
百子櫃Dried small shrimp· soaked; fry until fragrant first to draw out the flavour1 to 2 tablespoons
百子櫃Mung bean vermicelli· soaked soft, added in the last 2 to 3 minutes so they do not go mushy1 bunch
百子櫃Dried shiitake mushroom· optional2 to 3
街市Fresh ginger2 slices

Method

Heat the wok and fry the ginger and dried shrimp until fragrant (爆香) first, then add water, bring it to the boil and add the winter melon for 15 to 20 minutes until it turns translucent. The glass noodles go in last.

  1. Peel the winter melon and cut it into chunks; give the dried shrimp a short soak; soak the glass noodles until soft.
  2. Heat the wok and fry the ginger slices and dried shrimp until fragrant (爆香, a quick high heat fry that releases the aroma).
  3. Add 1.2 to 1.5 litres of water and bring it to the boil.
  4. Add the winter melon and boil for 15 to 20 minutes until it turns translucent.
  5. Put the glass noodles in for the last 2 to 3 minutes, season with salt and it is ready.

Who it suits

  • summer heat
  • fluid retention and puffiness
  • low calorie, for those watching their weight

Who should take care

  • Those with a cold constitution and pregnant women should keep to a moderate amount (a cold constitution caution given by several sources)
  • Dried shrimp is high in sodium, so go easy on the salt

Soup stories

This quick-boiled winter melon soup is the fast working sibling of the banquet winter melon tureen and the leading summer cooling soup. UFood puts it first on almost every seasonal quick soup list, and the variations are endless, with egg drop, Job's tears, shiitake and more.

From the same family

勝瓜雲耳肉片湯(絲瓜滾湯)
clears heatcools internal fireeases the bowelsSummer
街市Angled loofah· 1 to 2百子櫃Cloud ear fungus· 1 small handful街市Lean pork· about 150 to 200 g街市Fresh ginger· 2 to 3 slices

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Yellowcress (marsh cress) and snakehead fish soupNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
塘葛菜生魚湯
clears heatdispels dampnessmoistens the lungsSpringSummerAll year
百子櫃Yellowcress / marsh cress· 300 g百子櫃Snakehead fish· 1, about 600 g (1 catty)街市Lean pork· 300 g百子櫃Candied honey date· 2百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel· 1 piece街市Fresh ginger· 3 slices

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Winter melon tureen soup with night fragrant flowersNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
夜香花冬瓜盅
clears heatcools internal firepromotes water metabolismSummer
街市Winter melon· 1 large section (hollowed into a tureen) or 900 g (1.5 catties)百子櫃Night fragrant flower· 75 g百子櫃Dried shiitake mushroom· to taste街市Lean pork· to taste百子櫃Dried scallop (conpoy)· to taste百子櫃Lotus seed· to taste… +3

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

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.