老火湯LO FO TONG

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Yellowcress (marsh cress) and snakehead fish soup

塘葛菜生魚湯
clears heatdispels dampnessmoistens the lungspromotes water metabolismSpringSummerAll year slow-boiled · 2 hours Not yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Ingredients

百子櫃Yellowcress / marsh cress· or use watercress instead300 g
百子櫃Snakehead fish· pan-fry until fragrant first1, about 600 g (1 catty)
街市Lean pork300 g
百子櫃Candied honey date2
百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel1 piece
街市Fresh ginger3 slices

Method

Pan-fry the snakehead fish with the ginger slices until lightly golden before boiling it.

  1. Soak and wash the 塘葛菜 (yellowcress) clean of grit, or use watercress instead.
  2. Clean and dress the snakehead fish, pat it dry and pan-fry it with the ginger slices until both sides are lightly golden.
  3. Blanch the lean pork (汆水, a quick boil that draws out the blood and scum); soak the aged tangerine peel until soft and scrape off the pith.
  4. Bring 2.5 litres of water to the boil and add all the ingredients.
  5. Boil hard for 10 minutes, turn the heat to low and simmer for 2 hours, then season with salt and it is ready.

Who it suits

  • damp heat
  • skin sores and boils
  • wound healing after surgery (the folk 埋口 tradition of closing a wound)

Who should take care

  • Those who are weak and cold should take care

Soup stories

Snakehead is the fish that folk tradition credits with closing wounds, 埋口, and drinking snakehead soup after surgery is a Hong Kong custom. Yellowcress grew wild in the rice paddies and carries the flavour of the old countryside.

From the same family

Winter melon, dried shrimp and glass noodle soupNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
冬瓜蝦米粉絲湯（滾冬瓜湯）
clears heatdispels dampnesspromotes water metabolismSummer
街市Winter melon· about 600 g (1 catty)百子櫃Dried small shrimp· 1 to 2 tablespoons百子櫃Mung bean vermicelli· 1 bunch百子櫃Dried shiitake mushroom· 2 to 3街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Angled loofah, cloud ear fungus and pork slice soupA$7–15
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.”

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.