low sodium | Chinese Soup Pot

West Lake Beef Soup – Gratifying and Flavorsome

Sep 032012

Besides the Hot and Sour Soup, the West Lake Beef Soup (西湖牛肉羹) is probably the next most common soup found in Chinese restaurants in the US. Although the ingredients for this soup are simple, the West Lake Beef Soup is both gratifying and flavorsome – with a rich, mellow taste and a silky smooth mouth feel. The West Lake Beef Soup is a popular local dish of the mountainous ZheJiang (浙江) Chinese province, where the famous West Lake is located. One secret to making a soft, smooth West Lake Beef Soup is [Read More...]

Purple Sweet Potato Dumpling (Tang Yuan)

18 Responses »

Jan 192012

Purple Sweet Potato Dumpling (Tang Yuan)

Sweet rice dumplings, or Tang Yuan, is a traditional Chinese sweet dessert that is similar to the Japanese mochi in appearance. Like mochi, Tang Yuan is made out of glutinous rice flour and water to form a smooth al-dente dough which is rolled into round balls. While mochi is typically served dry, Tang Yuan is always served moist with a sweet gingery syrup. Tang Yuan is also never filled with ice cream like some versions of mochi. Instead, Tang Yuan is typically filled with a sweet delectable [Read More ...]

Double Steamed Asian Pear Almond Dessert Soup

11 Responses »

Jan 092012

Double Steamed Asian Pear Almond Dessert Soup

This is a delicious classic double steamed Chinese dessert I love. It has a delicate sweetness that is lightly contrasted with a smooth gingery zing that sits over a lovely mellow tone of almond fragrance and fresh pears. This dessert is good year round but especially suitable for the cold dry autumn and winter seasons. This dessert soup nourishes and moisturizes the lungs and skin. It helps to quench thirst and expel phlegm. This dessert can be [Read More...]

Moisturizing Asian Pears Herbal Soup with Dried Figs

13 Responses »

Dec 152011

Moisturizing Asian Pears Herbal Soup with Dried Figs

As we are in the midst of the dry cold season, I was reminded of a delicious moisturizing soup that my family enjoys during this time of year. This soup, made with ya li Asian pears, dried figs, and a few simple Chinese herbs, is a gentle nourishing tonic that moistens the lungs and skin from the [Read More...]

Revitalizing Dong Quai and Red Date Tea

13 Responses »

Dec 022011

This revitalizing Dong Quai and Red Date tea is a traditional recipe in Chinese food therapy. Although typically drank by women, it is consumed by men also. For women, this tea has been used for centuries to replenish the blood supply after a menstruation cycle or child birth. It is also used by Chinese women to relieve gynecological ailments, or menopausal symptoms. This recipe is so easy to make, with 3 simple steps that anyone can do at home [Read More ...]

Longan and Dried Figs Pork Soup

8 Responses »

Nov 282011

For those who celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you had a warm and wonderful holiday weekend! I enjoyed my time off with my husband eating and relaxing. We also took a day hike at Mountain Diablo. From the top of the summit there, at about 3,900 ft above sea level, we can see all the way to the [Read More...]

Burdock Daikon Carrot Pork Soup

6 Responses »

Oct 182011

It has been a while since I last made a soup with Burdock Root, 牛蒡 (also called Gobo or just Burdock). While this root is literally the foundation for a common weed that some find pesky, burdock root is known in several Asian food cultures to have cancer fighting abilities and health benefits. Europeans have also used this [Read More...]

Potato and Tomato Onion Fish Soup

3 Responses »

Oct 132011

I have a fish craze lately, prompted by my recent milky white Bok Choy Fish Head Tofu Soup (白菜魚頭豆腐湯). It was so delicious and so easy to make that I wanted to make and share another fish soup recipe with you. Besides, fish is so healthy for us. They are a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids that are essential to the healthy function of our brain and heart. This soup is delicious and it is nourishing for the body too, making it a great soup for both young and old. [Read More ...]

Pumpkin Carrot and Corn Pork Soup

9 Responses »

Sep 282011

If you like Japanese kabocha pumpkin like I do, this is the best time of the year to enjoy them. Although kabocha pumpkins are available year-round, they are at their best now in the late summer / early fall season. When picking a kabocha pumpkin, look for ones with a dark green skin and a dry corky [Read More...]

Bok Choy Fish Head Tofu Soup

8 Responses »

Sep 102011

Fish head soup had not always been a favorite of mine. I even thought it was gross when I was younger, making remarks like “Eeeww! Fish heads are so nasty looking.” Granted, a fish head was not the most aesthetically pleasing sight when it comes to food, whether live or cooked. And even though the best part [Read More...]

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