Traditional Chinese Medicine Medicated Diet Recipe Book

Eight Treasures Winter Melon Soup

Ba Bao Dong Gou Tang 八寶冬瓜湯

Ingredients:

1. Winter Melon (冬瓜) White Gourd 750 g


2. Lian Zi (蓮子) Lotus Seed 10 pieces


3. Yi Yi Ren (生薏仁) Job’s Tears Seed 60 g


4. Gou Qi Zi (枸杞子) Goji Berry 20 pieces


5. Chicken Leg (雞腿) 2 – 3


6. Chinese Ham (火腿) 1 slice


7. Shrimp (蝦) 10


8. Dry Chinese (Shiitake) Mushroom (冬菇) 2 – 3 pieces


9. Pork Bone (豬骨) 500g


10. Corn flour (生粉) ½ teaspoon


11. Light soya sauce (生抽) 3 teaspoons

Cooking methods:

1. Blanch pork bone in boiling water for a few minutes; drain, rinse with cold water


2. Wash the winter melon; remove the green skin, seeds, and the pulp. Cut into 1cm pieces


3. Soak Chinese dried mushrooms in hot water for 20 - 30 minutes until softened. Squeeze
   out any excess water, dice


4. Clean and soak Yi Yi Ren, Lian Zi in cold water for 30 minutes


5. Clean Gou Qi Zi and soak in cold water for 10 minutes


6. Dice Chinese ham


7. Clean chicken leg; remove skin, fat tissue and bones. Dice and season with corn flour and
   soya sauce


8. Clean and remove shell and intestines from shrimps


9. Place the pork bone in 2 liters of boiling water; bring to boil, and simmer for 2 - 3 hours


10. Drain the soup from 9 to remove pork bone and oil; bring to boil


11. Place the shiitake mushroom, ham, Yi Yi Ren, Lian Zi and winter melon in the soup,
    bring to a boil, and simmer for approximately 30 minutes or until the winter melon is
    tender.


12. Add Gou Qi Zi, chicken and shrimp; bring to boil and simmer for 10 minutes.


13. Season with salt if necessary


14. Add green onion for garnish. Serve hot.

Actions/Indications/Functions:

 Cooling, clear heat (especially summer-heat)

 Detoxify