Squab soup with Chinese yam & codonopsis, with choy sum
Squab simmered for two hours with fresh yam and codonopsis — a clear, sweet broth served with stir-fried choy sum to warm and build qi.
- 2 hr 20 min
- Serves 3
- Slow-simmer
- Easy
Why it suits you: Qi Deficiency means tiring easily and feeling short of breath. Squab builds qi and blood and is easy to digest, while codonopsis and yam strengthen digestion — a gentle, non-drying soup to tonify the spleen and stomach as Frost's Descent cools.
Method
Prep 20 min · Cook 120 min- 1Clean the squabs, halve them and put in a pan of cold water. Bring to the boil, blanch for 5 minutes and rinse.
- 2Rinse the codonopsis, red dates and goji berries. Wearing gloves, peel the yam and cut into lengths.
- 3Bring the water to the boil with the squab, codonopsis, red dates and ginger. Boil for 10 minutes, then simmer for 1½ hours. Add the yam for 20 minutes and the goji for the last 5, then season with salt.
- 4Cut the choy sum into lengths and stir-fry over high heat with the oil and a pinch of salt for 2 minutes. Serve with the soup.
Cautions
- Pause qi-tonic soups while you have a cold or fever.
Chef's tips
- Add the yam late so it doesn't dissolve, and skim off the fat on top for a lighter soup.
The TCM view
Squab is salty and neutral, supporting the liver and kidneys and building qi and blood; codonopsis is sweet and neutral, tonifying the middle and strengthening the spleen and lungs; Chinese yam is sweet and neutral and nourishes the stomach; red dates are sweet and warm and build blood. Mild and warming — it tonifies without drying.
