Revitalising Shroomy Soup
Tonic soups usually contains animal parts such as pork ribs and chicken. However, they can be made vegan and healthier with plant-based ingredients. In this recipe, we will be using different mushrooms that have excellent health benefits and taste! Especially with the umami flavour from these fresh and dried mushrooms, this soup is not only high in nutritional value but also very flavourful.
Required Ingredients
4-5 pieces of dried shiitake mushrooms （冬菇）
4 -5 pieces of dried blaze mushroom（巴西蘑菇）
6-8 Jujube dates（红枣）
Handful of Goji berries （枸杞）
Wash, drain and add water to soak these herbs and dried mushrooms for 30min. Keep the soaked water for later.
Chop up one thumb of ginger
Handful of Shimeiji mushrooms
Handful of oyster mushrooms
Cordyceps (optional. Usual cordyceps sold are not vegan but you can purchase vegan ones here.)
Alternatively, you can replace or add on cordyceps with any other ingredient you like such as lotus roots or corn.
Recipe Instructions
1. Fry the chopped/sliced ginger in some cooking oil.
2. Add the shimeiji mushrooms, oyster mushrooms and cordyceps and continue frying.
3. Add 2-3 tbsp of the herbs and mushroom soaked water you prepared before and continue frying until fragrant.
4. Slice shiitake mushrooms into edible sizes.
5.Transfer the stir fried ingredients and the soaked herbs and mushrooms, togehter with the mushroom soaked water, into a big pot together.
6. Add water until 2/3 of the pot is filled.
7. Cook under high heat until soup boils. Then simmer under low heat for at least 1.5 hours until ready to serve!
8. Season with 1-2 tbsp of light soya sauce. Adjust accordingly to taste.
Benefits of Revitalising Shroomy Soup
四菇清补汤
- Excellent sources of antioxidants. Mushrooms contain polyphenols and selenium. They also contain antioxidants that are unique, such as ergothioneine, which scientists are now beginning to recognize as a ‘master antioxidant’.
Antioxidants help protect the body from damaging free radicals that can cause conditions like heart disease and cancer. They also protect you against damage from aging and boost your immune system.
- Boost your immune system.
Other than the mushrooms having many essential vitamins such as Vitamin D, Bs and minerals such as copper, iron etc, the chinese herbs (jujube dates and goji berries) used are common supplementary tonics that can help to replenish Qi– a lifeforce that is weakened in many nowadays due to our unhealthy lifestyles and built up emotions.
- Mushrooms are rich in the B vitamins: riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid.
Riboflavin is good for red blood cell production. Niacin is good for the digestive system and for maintaining healthy skin. Pantothenic acid is good for the nervous system and helps the body make the hormones it needs.
About the writer
With a dedication to health and a heart for animals, Little Ling Chef is passionate in making cruelty-free, healthy vegan foods.
“Let food by thy medicine, and medicine by thy food.” Healing comes from the inside, I always believe that we have a choice to decide what we put into our bodies, food is to nourish, to energize and to heal. Let’s make your health and the world a better place together!