Fish maw, dried scallop and chicken soup with stir-fried choi sum
Rehydrated fish maw slow-boiled with dried scallops and chicken into a sweet, golden broth rich in collagen — deeply moistening, served with garlicky stir-fried choi sum.
- 2 hr 50 min
- Serves 3
- Slow-boil
- Medium
Why it suits you: Yin-deficient people are short of fluids, with a dry mouth and skin and a tendency to wake up hot at night, and Hanlu's dry weather drains yin further. Fish maw nourishes yin and blood, dried scallops nourish the kidneys and chicken restores strength; the sweet, collagen-rich broth moistens without being cold, and choi sum keeps the meal fresh.
Method
Prep 20 min · Cook 150 min- 1Soak the fish maw in water overnight. The next day, bring it to the boil with a slice of ginger and fresh water, turn off the heat and leave until cool, then soak in cold water until soft and cut into pieces.
- 2Soak the scallops in water for 1 hour. Skin the chicken, trim the fat, chop into large pieces, blanch and rinse.
- 3Bring the water to the boil, add the chicken, fish maw, scallops with their soaking water, candied dates and ginger, boil hard for 20 minutes, then simmer over a low heat for 2 hours.
- 4Add the goji berries 10 minutes before the end and season with salt.
- 5Cut the choi sum into lengths. Heat the oil, fry the chopped garlic until fragrant, add the choi sum and stir-fry over a high heat until just cooked, season with a pinch of salt and serve.
Cautions
- Fish maw is rich and gelatinous, so skip it with a cold, phlegm in the throat or poor digestion; people with gout should go easy on rich chicken broth.
Chef's tips
- Choose thick fish maw with a pale golden, translucent colour, and keep it away from oil while soaking or it will fall apart; soak extra and freeze it in portions.
The TCM view
Fish maw is sweet and neutral, entering the liver and kidneys, nourishing yin and blood, supporting the kidneys and moistening dryness. Dried scallop is sweet, salty and neutral, nourishing yin and the kidneys; chicken is sweet and warm, boosting qi, and is nourishing without heaviness once skinned; candied dates moisten the lungs; goji berries nourish the liver and kidneys; choi sum clears heat.
