🌿 Folk Prescriptions

According to the lunar calendar, we have now entered autumn, although summer heat has not yet dissipated. Traditionally, autumn weather is dry, and the human body needs to be nourished and moistened. Therefore, it is suitable to drink soups that nourish the lungs and intestines during this season, especially for women who regularly consume appropriate soups can maintain health and enhance beauty.
Guangdong people are particularly fond of drinking soup. Chef Li Jianchang, head chef at Zhi Zhen Restaurant in Shanghai, a renowned culinary master from Hong Kong, recommends several signature soups suitable for this season for white-collar workers, especially female office workers. These soups are effective for beautification, weight loss, and cooling down, and are easy to prepare at home. All these soups are relatively neutral without harsh ingredients, making them suitable for both elderly and children.
Honeydew Melon and Abalone Chicken Soup
Function: Known as "Jazz Soup" in Hong Kong, reportedly a favorite health soup of Sir Run Run Shaw. The soup turns a creamy white color, rich and milky, ideal for women, offering beauty-enhancing and moisturizing effects.
Ingredients: Half pound honeydew melon (note: choose white-skinned, green-fleshed melons, slightly unripe, not overly ripe), half pound fresh sea abalone meat (if fresh is unavailable, two ounces dried abalone suffices), one pound old hen.
Supplementary Ingredients: One small slice of ginger.
Method: Best prepared using a traditional deep clay pot; if unavailable, a high-quality stainless steel pot will do. Boil water (water volume exceeding ingredients by double), add ginger slice, abalone, and chicken pieces, boil over high heat for half an hour, then simmer over medium heat for two hours. Add diced honeydew melon and continue simmering over medium heat for another half hour. At this point, the soup volume should be reduced to about half or two-fifths of the original amount. Finally, adjust seasoning with salt according to taste.
Tip: Fresh abalone is difficult to clean due to its slimy outer layer. Mix with dry cornstarch and rinse thoroughly under water to clean easily.
Dried abalone should be soaked in warm water for one hour before washing and preparing; cut the hen into six pieces. If too fatty, remove skin, but keeping skin is better as it enhances soup aroma.
Tea Tree Mushroom and Pork Rib Soup
Function: Reduces fat, clears gastrointestinal tract, aids in weight loss.
Ingredients: 50 grams tea tree mushrooms (dried, available at Chinese grocery stores and large supermarkets), cut into small segments and rinsed lightly (do not soak). 200 grams pork ribs, cut into small pieces, 10 jujubes (pitted), one honey date, one slice of ginger.
Method: Same as above—once water boils, place all ingredients into boiling water, boil over high heat for 15 minutes, then simmer over medium heat for 30 minutes.
Tip: For vegetarians, omit pork ribs—the mushrooms alone make the soup quite flavorful and fragrant.
Winter Melon and Tangerine Peel Duck Soup
Function: Clears heat, strengthens spleen.
Ingredients: One mature duck, two pounds winter melon, 20 grams coix seed, one piece tangerine peel, one slice ginger, one honey date.
Method: Same as above—boil water, add all ingredients, boil over high heat for half an hour, then simmer over medium heat for three hours. Finally, adjust seasoning with salt according to taste.
Watermelon and Black Chicken Soup
Function: Autumn is dry, so internal moisture is essential. This soup is also highly moisturizing. Particularly beneficial for women, regular consumption until winter can keep skin smooth and supple. Moreover, the soup looks appealing—slightly red, green, and black from the black chicken.
Ingredients: Fresh watermelon (use whole melon, scoop out flesh, retain some red part, dice the rind), one black chicken (cut into chunks); one honey date, 200 grams lean meat.
Supplementary Ingredients: One small slice of ginger.
Method: Use same pot and water volume as above. First boil water, add chicken chunks, ginger slice, lean meat, honey date, boil over high heat for half an hour, then simmer over medium heat for one and a half hours. Then add diced watermelon and continue simmering over medium heat for another half hour. Finally, adjust seasoning with salt according to taste.
Salvia and Polygonatum Fish Tail Soup
Function: Salvia and polygonatum both nourish the lungs. This soup is especially helpful for those who smoke or drink excessively or suffer from sleep deprivation.
Ingredients: Salvia and polygonatum (both medicinal herbs, available at herbal pharmacies), 3–4 grams each; southern and northern apricot kernels (also medicinal, available at herbal pharmacies), 5 grams; one honey date; one striped bass tail (about 750 grams), 200 grams lean meat, one slice ginger.
Method: Basic method as above. First wash the fish tail, pan-fry both sides in a little oil until golden brown. Boil water, add all ingredients into boiling water, boil over high heat for half an hour, then simmer over medium heat for one and a half hours. Finally, adjust seasoning with salt according to taste.
Tip: Although salvia, polygonatum, and southern/northern apricot kernels are all medicinal, they have no strong medicinal taste, so the soup remains very delicious.