Ingredient Name: Beetroot, red beet, garden beet, or beet
Traditional Chinese Name: 紅菜頭 (hóng cài tóu)
What is this?
A dark, red root that brings a rich, bright red color to your soup
The texture of the beetroot (when boiled in soup) is similar to that of the white radish and takes awhile to soften relative to other rooty veggies (carrots and potatoes)
Be sure to select beetroots that are firm in texture with a vibrant colour (not squishy or soft feeling) – this means they are fresh!
This root brings a mild and sweet taste to the soup that is awesome!
How do I prepare it?
Cut off the top (or the leaves) as I don’t use it in my soups
You can treat this like any other root (ie: carrot, potatoes)
Rinse under warm water to wash away the dirt and remove the skin by peeling or slicing away
Slice or chop into edible sizes (as the beet doesn’t dissolve or soften as quickly as carrots or potatoes)
Where can I buy this?
Most supermarkets will carry this
What is the cost?
In Hong Kong, 1 root (as pictured above) costs around $22 HKD (which is pretty expensive for a veggie!) at the wet mart
Any benefits?
The beetroot provides an excellent source of folate, manganese, potassium and iron
Excellent in supporting blood supplement and helps lower blood pressure (because the beetroot contains nitrates which help open the blood vessels and helps with circulation)
They are also packed with Vitamins and antioxidants
Beetroots are also a great source of fibre, so it can be definitely eaten like a meal as part of your soup
Any precautions?
Consumption of beetroot may turn your urine or stool slightly reddish, there is nothing to fear in this as it is harmless. Just let it pass through your system.
The colour of the beetroot will stain your hands, so either wear gloves or use some lemon juice to help remove
The root of a of the greater burdock plant family that is mainly cultivated for its root and is considered a vegetable
The roots are brown and roughly 1-2 inches in diameter and can grow up to 1 meter in length
It has a white, slightly brown flesh that is crunchy in texture
Most commonly found in Japanese cuisine and specifically in Chinese medicine
It is sweet, earthy, and dark to taste and adds a wonderful flavor to soups, although it can be quite strong, so use less first and adjust as you need. Do taste it!
Can be used fried, raw, processed or made into a drink
How do I prepare it?
Rinse the roots in warm water and optionally peel off skin prior to usage
I would suggest to soak in warm water for 10-15 minutes to remove the muddy harshness flavor associated with the root, but some like that earthy taste, which adds to the flavor, so this is your call
Cut into large bite-sizes for soups and consumption
Where can I buy it and cost?
Available in most Asian supermarkets
5-6 foot long pieces cost around $5 CAD
Any benefits?
High in dietary fiber and low in calories and fat
Contains high amounts of calcium, potassium, iron and amino acids
As a Chinese medicine, it has a diuretic effect and promotes bowel movements
It is also effective in removing wind heat from the body as well as phlegm
Helps to reduce blood sugar, blood fat and blood pressure
Any precautions?
Some burdocks resemble another plant called nightshade and contamination may occur
Be sure to buy burdocks from a reputable source
Looking to build your basic Chinese Soup Pantry?
This is a great starter video to build our your basic Chinese soup pantry. A handful of these ingredients are actual amazing with one simple chicken. It’s your basic Chicken Herbal Soup here!
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The imperatae is a rhizoma (or underground stem) that has roots and shoots underground and looks almost like a type of grass. They are long, thin stems that are beige in colour and can be found fresh or dried. In traditional Chinese medicine, the imperatae is cooling in nature and sweet. It tends to be used for teas (rather than soups) and is great for dispelling heat in the body (especially heat collected from eating too much barbeque or hot pot!). It is great for addressing the stomach, lungs, and bladder. You’ll commonly find this ingredient paired with sugar cane in the Cantonese soup repertoire.
How do I prepare it?
This is a relatively simple ingredient to clean and use.I’ve only bought the dried version of this plant and only rinse with cold water to be sure it’s clean for boiling. You can also soak in cool water first before usage.I honestly haven’t tried eating it as it is usually discarded as part of the soup remains after boiling. This is true if you’re making a big batch and saving it as a drink or tea for later.
Where can I buy it and cost?
You can purchase from most Asian supermarkets prepackaged
You can also purchase this in bulk from specialty stores (online herbal shops)
This is also available in Chinese medicine stores or those dried Asian herbal shops
What is the cost?
These aren’t very expensive at all
Any benefits?
Ideal for clearing heat, especially in the stomach, bladder, and lung
It’s also known to increase urination
It targets the stomach, bladder, and lungs
From a TCM perspective, it’s known to stop bleeding due to heat in the blood
It is cooling in nature
Sweet ingredients will also detoxify the body
Any precautions?
As it’s cooling, you should avoid this if you have yin deficiency
This should also be avoided if you’re going through postpartum confinement (since you want more Yang in your body anyways)
Be sure to consult with your doctor before consuming any medicine
Looking to build your basic Chinese Soup Pantry?
There are so many ingredients in the Chinese soup repertoire, so here’s an intro video to get you started! While imperatae isn’t on this list because it’s primarily used for specific teas (or soups), you can still have it handy as needed! Especially in the summer!
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Is your FISH too fishy for your soup? HERE's How to use Fish in CHINESe SOUPS Thank you for your questions! These make great topics for me to explore further and share my love of making soups and the best way to do it! So if you have any comments or questions, or...
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Sweet, starchy tuber that resembles the potato in shape and size
The colours of sweet potatoes range from dark brown to light pink to dark purple with varying colours on the inside (there are over 1,000 variaties of sweet potatoes)
Often mistaken for or named Yam (which is a different vegetable)
Sweet potatoes can be found almost everywhere in the world
It has many culinary uses (from sweet to salty flavours)
How do I prepare it?
Wash thoroughly in cool water
Peel skin prior to use and remove ends
Where can I buy this?
You can buy from most supermarkets
What is the cost?
Sweet potatoes cost varies depending on the breed, size and originality
In general, I usually purchase Japanese sweet potatoes and those cost around $50 HKD per pound
Any benefits?
Extremely rich in beta-carotene, dietary fiber, Vitamin C and Vitamin B
Good source of simple starches
Choose orange fleshed sweet potatoes for a boost of beta-carotene over their paler counterparts
Any precautions?
Be sure to buy firm sweet potatoes
Any substitutes?
The yam makes a good substitute as they are similar in taste and texture (although bigger and have thicker skin)
Any additional information?
Sweet potatoes stores extremely well in dry weather and can keep up to 3-6 months without refrigeration
