Four Cordyceps Flower Nourishing Soups

Ingredients

• 30 g Cordyceps flower (dried; divided across 4 recipes)
• 0.5 Silkie chicken (cut into pieces for Silkie Chicken Soup component)
• 0.5 Chicken (regular chicken, cut into pieces for Red Date Chicken Soup component)
• 1 lb Pork ribs (divided for Yam and Corn rib soup components)
• 12 Red dates (pitted; divided)
• 2 tbsp Goji berries (divided)
• 8 slice Ginger (divided for all soups)
• 200 g Chinese yam (peeled and sliced for Yam Rib Soup)
• 1 Sweet corn (cut into sections for Corn Rib Soup)
• 1 Carrot (sliced for Corn Rib Soup)
• 8 cup Water (approximately 2 cups per soup pot)
• Salt (to taste)

Steps

1. 1

   Prepare the base ingredients: Rinse the dried cordyceps flowers and soak them in cool water for about 10 minutes until softened. Wash the red dates and goji berries. Peel and slice the ginger.

2. 2

   Prepare the proteins: Clean the silkie chicken, regular chicken, and pork ribs. Blanch all meats in boiling water with a few slices of ginger and a splash of cooking wine (optional) to remove impurities. Drain and rinse with clean water.

3. 3

   For the Cordyceps Silkie Chicken Soup: Place the blanched silkie chicken, a portion of cordyceps flowers, red dates, and ginger slices into a soup pot. Add enough water to cover.

4. 4

   For the Cordyceps Red Date Chicken Soup: Place the blanched regular chicken, cordyceps flowers, red dates, and ginger slices into a second pot. Add water.

5. 5

   For the Cordyceps Yam Rib Soup: Place the blanched pork ribs, cordyceps flowers, sliced Chinese yam, and ginger into a third pot. Add water.

6. 6

   For the Cordyceps Corn Rib Soup: Place the remaining blanched pork ribs, cordyceps flowers, corn sections, sliced carrots, and ginger into a fourth pot. Add water.

7. 7

   Simmering: Bring each pot to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat. Cover and simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours until the meat is tender and the soup is fragrant and golden.

8. 8

   Finishing: About 10 minutes before turning off the heat, add the goji berries to the pots. Season with salt to taste before serving hot.

Notes

The cordyceps flowers give the soup a beautiful golden color. Do not over-soak them or you will lose the nutrients in the water. For a clearer soup, ensure the meat is thoroughly blanched and rinsed before the long simmer.

Nutrition per serving

• soup
• healthy
• Chinese
• cordyceps
• chicken soup
• pork ribs
• tonic
• winter