栗子玉蜀黍花生汤

Chestnut, Peanut and Sweet Corn Soup!

Wow, what a long name for a soup!

Since it's winter now, cooking soups which are nourishing, usually using chinese herbs, would be beneficial for everyone in the family. Soups for improving blood circulation, for improving vision, improving complexion, for moisturizing the lungs, and many more! I'm not very familiar with many chinese herbs. The ones I have and use are the very mild type, like bitter and sweet almonds, red dates, dried figs, chestnuts, and Yu Zhu. These herbs are mild, and add sweetness to whatever soup that you are cooking.

I was really happy when I found this website. It provides recipes of many nourishing soups. The recipes were provided by a lady who specialises in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Hence, the type of medicinal benefits are also stated along with the recipe! Since I had some of the ingredients at hand, I decided I would try out the Chestnut, Peanut and Sweet Corn Soup!

Chestnut, Peanut and Sweet Corn Soup

2/3 cup, 100g Chestnuts

2/3 cup, 100g Peanuts

1.5 litres Water (I used 1.2 litres)

3 Sweet Corn (I used 2)

1 Carrots (I used 2)

10 pcs Chinese Mushrooms (I had only 7)

2 slices Ginger

1.2 lbs Porkribs

• Wash the chestnuts and peanuts.
• Pour water into a soup pot. Add chestnuts and peanuts.
• Bring the water to a boil, and lower heat.
• Let simmer for 15 minutes.
• Remove pot from heat.
• Allow the chestnuts and peanuts to soak for 2 hours or more.

While soaking the chestnuts and peanuts ....

• Peel the carrots and cut into chunks.
• Cut the sweet corns into chunks.
• Soak the chinese mushrooms in water to soften.
• Slice into smaller pieces.
• Wash and clean the porkribs.
• Blanch in boiling water.
• Rinse the blanched porkribs in cold water.
• Add the carrots, corn, chinese mushrooms, ginger slices and porkribs into the pot with the chestnuts and peanuts.
• Cover the pan and bring the pot of water to a boil.
• Lower heat and let it simmer for 2 hours.
• Serve the soup warm.

The house smelled of mushrooms as the soup was simmering away ... it reminded me of Chinese New Year, when my mother would braised Chinese Mushrooms in her slow-cooker.

有补肾益氣的作用, 常食用能增强体质, 养颜润肤

This soup is supposed to be good for our complexion (I need it!) and helps improve the body's composition. Neither too "heaty" nor "cooling". Suitable for the young, not so young, and the old. I would definitely cook it again, since everyone at home enjoyed the soup!