Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Chinese Green Radish Carrot Soup (青红萝卜湯)


Daikon or Chinese radish is a challenge for a lot of people who aren't familiar with it. Especially when cooked, it has a rather strong or pungent flavour - to be exact, a radishy flavour that can be easily be mistaken as a foul smell. It's a healthy and cooling vegetable. It soothes dry or soar throats, an eye astringent and if feeling fatigue or having problems sleeping soundly at night, give this soup a try. Ancient Chinese Herbalist even say that this soup is suppose to help with anemia in children.

When growing up, my dad made this soup once a week for me as I had suffered from anemia, always had a pale tongue, felt very weak and cold as a very young girl. But for some strange reason, I always felt very warm, after having a big bowl of this Chinese green radish carrot soup.

Ethan, my older son, has a stye on his left eye. He gets it once or twice a year and it never used to bother him but this time it seems different. He is in a french immersion Kindergarten and he seemed very down yesterday. Some of his classmates made fun of him, poor little fellow - the pain of growing up. So heartbreaking to hear and see him down like this. I am going to take him see our family physician on Thursday but for now, this is the best remedy I can think of besides a motherly hug and love.

Chinese Green Radish Carrot Soup (青红萝卜湯)

10 - 12 dried northern/eastern Apricots Kernel (南北杏)
1 - 2 small slices dried tangerine peel (陈皮)
4 dried honey dates (蜜枣)
3 large Chinese soup carrots, peeled and cut into big bite sizes
1 medium to large green radish, peeled and cut into big bite sizes
1/2 lb of lean pork

Step 1:
Blanche pork in separate bowl with boiling water, afterwards rinse it clean under running water.

Step 2:
Mix all the ingredients in a pot, cover with plenty of water and bring it to boil. Simmer over low heat for 2 - 3 hours.

Step 3:
Add salt to taste. Serve hot.

Enjoy !

3 comments:

  1. Is it possible to put in a slow cooker?

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    Replies
    1. definitely, you can even put in slow cooker overnight on low.
      Next morning, you can enjoy it.

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  2. All the Chinese Soups can be cooked in slow crock pots .... good luck !!!

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