Start of Spring · Tea break · Yin Deficiency
Water chestnut and snow fungus sweet soup with honey
Snow fungus simmered until silky, crunchy sweet water chestnuts and honey stirred in once warm — soothing for a dry throat.
- 55 min
- Serves 3
- Simmer
- Easy
CoolingNourishes yin & moistensClears heat & eases thirst
Why it suits you: Yin Deficiency brings a dry mouth and warm palms, Lichun air is still dry, and New Year means plenty of fried festive snacks. Snow fungus, water chestnut and honey moisten and calm deficient heat without being too cold.
Method
Prep 15 min · Cook 40 min- 1Soak the snow fungus for 20 minutes until soft, trim off the hard base and tear into small florets.
- 2Wash and peel the water chestnuts, then dice or lightly smash them. Rinse the goji berries.
- 3Bring the snow fungus and water to the boil, then simmer for 30 minutes until silky and slightly thickened. Add the water chestnuts and simmer for 10 minutes more.
- 4Add the goji berries 2 minutes before the end. Turn off the heat and let it cool until warm, not hot, then stir in the honey.
Cautions
- Go easy if your digestion runs cold or you get loose stools; leave out the goji during a cold or fever.
Chef's tips
- Do not add honey to boiling liquid; wait until the soup is warm for the best flavour.
- Make it the night before, reheat until warm in the morning, add the honey and pour into a flask for the office.
The TCM view
Snow fungus is sweet and neutral and nourishes yin and the lungs; water chestnut is sweet and cold, clears heat, eases thirst and resolves phlegm; honey is sweet and neutral and moistens; goji nourishes the liver and kidneys, in tune with spring's focus on the liver. A moderate amount of water chestnut, eaten warm, moistens without chilling digestion.
