MUSHROOM SOUP

Creamy Mushroom Soup

minus the cream!

Thanks Loke Peng for sharing your recipe

Mushroom Soup

(A) 25g Chinese dried mushroom

      1/2 big onion, cubed

      300 ml chicken stock + mushroom soaking water

(B) 2 tsp plain flour

      1 Tbsp milk powder

      1 tsp butter

      1/4 tsp garlic oil

      1/8 tsp oregano

      salt (1/2 tsp) & pepper to taste

Notes:

1. can replace part of the liquid with cream if you like

2. add more liquid if you find it too thick

Method:

1. wash mushroom & soak for at least 2 hours

2. remove the centre core & cut into pieces

3. bring to a boil, mushroom, onions & some soaking water

4. allow to simmer until soft

5. alternatively you can double boil to soften

6. scoop only the mushroom & onions into the blender

7. measure the water + top up with chicken stock to 300ml

8. blend mushroom with some of the 300ml liquid

9. empty all into a saucepan, stir in ingredients (B), mix well

10. cook over medium heat until thicken

11. serve hot with sourdough bread or toast

CLEAR VEGETABLE SOUP

Clear Vegetable Soup

I love soups

Someone mentioned that Foochow people like soups.

Indeed, most Foochows have a bowl of soup on the table during meal times.

I am one that never miss.

We like to boil soups with chicken or pork or bones

because it makes the soup tasty and nutritious.

Recently Kelly Yip posted a vegetable soup

and she said that it was yummy.

I was curious and the next day I boiled one for myself

using the vegetables that I have in the house.

I find that the soup is clear,

sweet and tasty, minus the fats!

Perhaps you may like to try boiling one too.

Clear Vegetable Soup

2 carrots, cut in wedges

1-2 corn, cut to the size you can hold if you want to eat it

2 dried mushrooms, washed & halved

some red dates, sliced open 

1. everything into the slow cooker

2. add the amount of water you want

3. boil for 2 hours, 1 hour on HIGH & another on LOW

4. serve slightly cooled

OLD CUCUMBER SOUP

Old cucumber soup 

is a popular home remedy to cooling the body in general.

It helps to soothe throat irritation and coughs,

and some even believe in its anti-aging benefits.

Old cucumber soup 

is generally acceptable in its taste

for children and adults alike.

The method of preparing this soup is quite simple too.

Simply get all the ingredients above,

cleaned and cut accordingly.

Then, put all into a pot of boiling water

and simmer for an hour or two,

a pot of steaming old cucumber soup is ready to be served!

Enjoy!

BLACK HAIR HERBAL TONIC

Black Hair Herbal Tonic

is nice to drink as a soup, nice & sweet!

It is good if you want a thicker, black and shiny hair!

To me, it doesn't really matters whether it helps or not, 

the soup is nice to drink!

It is boiled with the following

'BLACK' ingredients:

Black Hair Herbal Tonic

Herbs:

20g Heshouwu

50g black beans, soaked

3 black date or red dates, halved

1-2 dried mushrooms, soaked & cleaned

15g black fungus, soaked & cut smaller

3 longan

20g wolfberry

Either: 1/4 kampong chicken or

            1 black chicken or

            300g spare ribs

1 litre or more boiling water

Method:

1) All herbs, except wolfberry, into the slow cooker

2) pour in 1 litre (or more) boiling water

3) slow cook on 'HIGH'

4) when boiling, add meat & wolfberry, continue to cook on 'HIGH'

5) After 2 hours of boiling, set on 'LOW' to simmer until ready to serve.

Note: can be served with or without 'salt'

ZUCCHINI SALTED EGG SOUP

Zucchini

a summer squash,

is a member of the gourd family.

I have extracted this from Pinterest to share:

These are sold either in green or yellow.

I have bought the yellow one.

Thank you Jessie Tee for introducing to me

Zucchini Salted Egg Soup

I have adapted the recipe from wendyinkk.blogspot.com

 These are the ingredients:

Zucchini Salted Egg Soup

1 Zucchini 7" long, cut itno 5mm thick strips

1 salted duck egg, white & yolk separated

3 slices old ginger

3 sprigs spring onions, cut into 1" lengths

20-50g glass noodles, soaked

1. heat up a wok/pot with 1 Tbsp oil

2. fry ginger until fragrant

3. add zucchini sticks & fry until sticks wilt

4. add in 1L water and bring it to a boil

5. add salted egg yolk to cook, turn the heat to medium low

6. after 2 min, fish out the egg yolk & slice thinly or chop it

7. add glass noodles

8. when zucchini is soft, drizzle salted egg white into the soup, stirring at the same time

9. season with salt, pepper and chicken cube if necessary

10. add salted egg yolk pieces, spring onions

11. serve hot

Note:

1. Zucchini can be replaced with any member of the gourds family.
2. feel free to mash the yolk in its white before drizzling into the soup 

4 HERBS TONIC SOUP

4 Herbs Tonic Soup

(Si Shen Tang)

四神汤

was originally known as 

4 Ministers Soup

(Si Chen Tang)

四臣汤

The herbs used in this soup is neutral in nature.

It is ideal as food remedies

to support digestive system, increase appetite
and help to improve immune system.

健脾、開胃、养颜、清火、利尿

This Si Sheng Tang is suitable for all ages,
Children, adults and seniors.

You can eat the herbs in this 4 herbs tonic soup.
 I normally finish most of it.
Sometimes it is taken as a meal by diabetic patients too.

This classic formula consists of 4 herbs in equal parts as follows:

4 Herbs Tonic Soup

25g Poria (Fu Ling) 茯苓
25g Chinese wild yam (Huai San) 淮山

25g White lotus seeds (Lian Chi) 蓮子

25g Euryale Seeds (Qian Shi) 芡实
8 longan for sweetness, optional

Note:

1. Pork ribs or lean meat can be added for flavour 

2. Rinse the herbs, blanch the pork ribs & put in a slow cooker
3. Add hot boiling water & allow to boil for 2-3 hours.

SAVOURY DRIED FIG SOUP

无花果

Dried Figs 

are usually eaten as snacks.

I do not know that it can be boiled in soups until Long Yen introduced.

Figs are rich in soluble fibre and essential minerals.

Besides improving general health, 

it also promotes bone density,

lower blood pressure,

rejuvenate and improve skin conditions.

Look at this extract....

Savoury Dried Fig Soup

200-300g pork ribs

3 dried figs

3 red dates

some wolfberry

2-3 bowls of water

1. rinse pork ribs in boiling water to remove impurities

2. all ingredients into a pot, bring to a boil

3. lower heat and allow to simmer for an hour.

4. enjoy warm

Note:

This soup is sweet. Adding salt is optional

CHINESE WATERCRESS SOUP

Chinese Watercress Soup
西洋菜汤

Can be cooked in many ways.

You can cook it sweet and refreshing

With only 2 simple ingredients, watercress & honey dates.

It Can be served as a dessert

A more elaborate and thick soup

With pork ribs, dried cutle fish and red dates

Here, I am cooking a simple and light soup

With 3 ingredients.

Do not be discouraged when you see only 3 ingredients,

namely watercress, pork ribs and red dates.

They are sufficient for an appetising and refreshing soup.

Of course, old ginger may be added too
if you like its gingery taste.

As for the watercress

Some like to have the whole bunch inside the soup, thick stem and young shoots.

Whereas I like mine, tender and nice

So that I can finish eating the whole lot! Yummy

Chinese Watercress Soup
1/2 kg pork ribs
1/2 kg watercress
8 red dates, slit and pit removed
Salt to taste, optional (I do not add)
1" old ginger, smashed (optional)

1) heat up 1/2 pot of water
2) add everything in and bring it to a boil
3) Allow to simmer for an hour or two (best 2 hours)
4) serve hot

DOUBLE BOILED FOOCHOW RICE WINE CHICKEN SOUP

Double Boiled Foochow Rice Wine Chicken Soup

best served hot.

I love it because the soup is clear and flavourful

and 

the chicken is tender.

Foochow Rice Wine is made from Glutinous rice,

so it may be cooling, 

as such ginger slices are added when cooking with Foochow Rice Wine.

With slices of ginger added

it helps to expel wind from the body too.

This is recommended 

for ladies during confinement.

Of course,

you can remove the skin from the chicken

so that it is not so oily.

If you are interested,

this is the recipe:

You will need:

1/4 kampong chicken cut into bite size

few slices of old ginger

1/4 cup rice wine

1.5 cup water

1) all ingredients into the double boiler and steam for 2 hours until chicken is tender

2) serve hot

LEMONGRASS CHICKEN SOUP

Lemongrass
is widely used as a herb in Asian Cooking.

In Indonesia
lemongrass is extracted to make mosquito repellant.

How many of us are aware that 
Lemongrass is also a Traditional treatment of coughs and cold?

I only know that Lemongrass can expel wind 

& 

it is good to the new mother 

This is usually boiled in soups.

Smashed shallots are sometimes added 

to enhance the effect 
and also for added flavour 

Lemongrass Chicken Soup
1 chicken thigh, cut into bite size (or chicken bones and feet)
3 lemongrass, smashed
4 shallots, smashed

1) all ingredients into the pot
2) add enough water to cover the ingredients
3) simmer until cooked, 2-3 hours
4) serve hot

Note:
Chicken bones and feet are usually used for cooking this soup.
Whereas the meaty parts are used to cook the main course for the new mother

SIMPLE PUMPKIN SOUP

Simple Pumpkin Soup

Looking at the thick and creamy pumpkin soup,

one may think that it is not easy to whip up!

Actually it is not so.

I would like to share with you this

Simple Pumpkin Soup Recipe:-

Ingredients:

300g pumpkin, peeled & cut into chunks

1/2 large onions, chopped

250g stock

15g butter

milk to adjust consistency

salt & pepper to taste

herbs or spice, optional

1. heat butter in a pan, add onions & fry until soft

2. pour in stock, add pumpkin, cover & bring to a boil

3. lower the heat to simmer until pumpkin is cooked

4. remove from heat, and let cool

5. using a blender to blend pumpkin until fine

6. bring back to a boil, adjust the consistency with milk if necessary

7. add herbs or spice, pepper & salt to taste

8. serve hot

CLEAR BROTH

For Chinese Cooking,

many a time we need a clear soup base.

To mention the common one is

 'Buddha Jump Over The Wall' 

a Foochow Specialty which I have already posted earlier.

This is done simply by double boiling.

Bones, can be of chicken or pork,

add 

amount of water you require for cooking the dish

and 

double boil for 4-6 hours!

One peeled large onion may be added to enhance its flavour.

Done!

PEPPER CORN PIG'S STOMACH SOUP

This Pepper Corn Soup

is popular among the Chinese.

Often times you can order this dish from a coffee shop

which offers simple stir fry dishes. 

It is also one of the popular Confinement Food.

Pepper corn and ginger has been added to expel 'wind' 

If you have a lot of bones left, be it chicken or pig's,

it can be used to cook this soup.

Why bones?

Pig's stomach needs long hours of cooking to soften,

and 

bone needs long hours of cooking to extract the collagen & nutrients.

So, it is just nice to pair them this way.

Of course, if you love to have some meat in the soup,

add it when it is almost done!

There is no exact measurement as how much to put in the soup.

The 2 important ingredients:

pepper corns and ginger, 

both smashed and added to give the extra ordinary taste of the dish!

To clean the Pig's stomach:

1. snip off all fats from the surface of the pig's stomach

2. turn the stomach inside out, wash away the slime under slow running water

3. use a knife to scrap off the remaining sticky substance

4. drain, add 2-3 Tbsp salt & scrub as you would scrub your kitchen towel with your hands

5. add 2-3 Tbsp tapioca starch or corn starch, continue rubbing & scrubbing

6. rinse off the sticky substance & repeat 4 & 5

7. rinse & put into boiling water, cover & turn off heat. Leave aside for 15min

8. can leave to cool or just add tap water to cool down

9. use a knife to scrape off any loose white skin

10. the pig's stomach is now ready for cooking.

CORN SOUP

A nice clear soup

with

4 ingredients

Double boiling produce clear soups

This is how I get this soup clear and nice

1/4 kampong chicken or thigh, cut into bite size

1 pc ginger, smashed

few pieces carrots

1/2 corn, cut into smaller pieces

salt & pepper to taste if necessary

1) all ingredients into a double boiler bowl, add enough water

2) double boil for 2 hours & you will get a nice, sweet soup

3) I always omit salt & pepper 

ABC SOUP

ABC Soup 

is a common soup in most household

The ingredients are simple

and easily available

Most of time

I cook this soup because I have most of the ingredients 

left over after cooking other dishes

e.g. 1 potato, 1/2 carrot, 1 tomato & 1 big onions

Bring them together

add some chicken pieces

like this

and you gonna have a nice and hot soup

If you like a thick soup like the photo above, boil it for an hour or more

If you like a clear soup, double boil it!

GINSENG 'BEARDS' CHICKEN SOUP

I am using 

Korean Ginseng Fine Roots or 'beards' 

for this chicken soup

The 'beards' of Korean Ginseng

is similar in colour 

to the main root

but

the strength has been greatly reduced.

It is no longer heaty

and

it helps in cleaning of blood

especially useful to those who have skin problems

like pimples and rashes

Ginseng roots are sold in bundles like this

Ginseng 

has a bitter taste

As such, other herbs such as huai san, dried longan and wolfberries 

are added to sweeten the soup

1 chicken thigh, or other parts (kampong chicken)

10-20g ginseng roots

2 rice bowls of hot water

12g huai san

8 longan

1-2 Tbsp wolfberries

salt to taste (optional)

1) blanch chicken in boiling water, drained

2) rinse all herbs & put into a steaming bowl

3) add hot water & chicken

4) double boil for 3 hours

5) add salt to taste if required

6 HERB SOUP

六味湯

六味湯
This is an appetizing

and clear soup

with 6 herbs 

as shown in the photo below

The following has an additional item:
 sar shen.

  

It is good as a dessert
by adding some barley pearls to boil together.

When ready, sweeten it with some rock sugar

This is good for the little ones in the family

as it helps to increase appetite 

6 herbs soup

(can be bought in ready packet from a chinese medical shop)

15g huai san

25g dried lotus seeds

30g yu zhu

15g see sud

25g pak hup

15g longan

1 chicken thigh

2 chicken feet

1) rinse the herbs & put into a double boiler or slow cooker

2) add chicken thigh & feet

3) add enough boiling water

4) double boil for 2-3 hours

5) serve

BLACK BEAN PORK RIBS SOUP

This is 

a soup prepared with the basic nourishing ingredient:

BLACK BEAN

with either

pork ribs
Or 
pig's trotter

for taste & protein & collagen

300g pork ribs or pig leg
50g black bean, soaked overnight
10g wolf berry
8 dried longan
8 red dates, snipped
few slices old ginger

Add if available (Optional)
10g Huai San
10g dang Shen

1) rinse herbs & put all ingredients into a slow cooker

2) add enough hot water & slow boil for 3 hours
3) add salt if necessary 

CORDYCEPS SOUP

CORDYCEPS

are 

known to be effective

in restoring & strengthening

the immune system

It is particularly used

on 

those who are weak 

or
those who have recovered from illness

or 

after child-birth

As such it is an excellent rejuvenator

Cordyceps is an expensive herbs

and

it is normally used on its own

Ginseng can be added

to enhance its performance

Other times

lean pork or chicken breasts

are added to overcome the fishy smell

However

to avoid wastage & loss of nutrients 

everything must to eaten

meat & herbs!

I have double boiled it for 4 hours:

1. Cordyceps alone

2. Cordyceps with lean pork

double boiled for 4 hours

DU ZHONG BLACK BEAN CHICKEN SOUP

Du Zhong & Black Beans

a good combination

for the new mother

Du Zhong 
has a bitter taste
While
Black beans is neutral

To make this soup palatable

Chicken or pork ribs are usually added

Black chicken 

is said to be more nutricious

so
 it is used in this recipe 

1/2 black chicken

2 Tbsp black bean, soaked 4 hours or overnight
1 slice DU Zhong
8 red dates
2 tsp wolfberry
6 dried longan 
salt to taste, optional 

1) Blanch chicken in boiling water, drained
2) put all ingredients into a double boiler
3) cover, bring to a boil & simmer for 3 hours
4) serve hot