Yacon - 冰山雪莲果

Yacon(冰山雪莲果) is a sweet and crunchy vegetable that has a flavour similar to an apple. The actual vegetable is called a "tuber" which is a thick stem or root that grows underground which similar to a potato. Yacon grows in a variety of different colors including pink, orange, white or purple. In the United States, Yacon that is sold in markets is typically white compared to the orange type that we have in Singapore.(if you seen any purple colour Yacon do share a photo of it with me as I am curious on how it looks like)

According to some google read-up this vegetable is very high in fiber and low in calories which makes it a healthy and nutritious snack. Furthermore Yacon has also been known to improve digestion by promoting the growth of bacteria beneficial to human health in the intestine too.(more information HERE)

I have used this Yacon to make two different type of soup such as "Yacon And Lotus Roots Peanut Soup" and Yacon with Sweetcorn Pork Ribs Soup. Both these soup taste refreshing with a light and sweet fragrant from the Yacon.

Leek (蒜)

As you know Leeks belong to the same category as onion family where you will link to those thick stalked European leeks that are commonly found in supermarkets which have a mild sweet flavor that is suitable for making soup or pie. But as for Chinese leeks on the other hand they are smaller and thinner which resemble thick scallion that has strong flavor, which makes them a staple ingredient in most Chinese cooking.

Some of the Chinese also believe that by storing more LEEKS(蒜)at home it means there will have more money to COUNT(算) throughout the year as both have the same pronunciation in Mandarin. If you like leek, you can refer to the followig link HERE for more recipe ideas.

Kau Kee - 九杞菜

Kau Kee - 九杞 (wolfberry leaves) is a kind of leafy vegetables that comes in long stalks and sharp thorns on it. You can get this from most local supermarket or tradition wet market near your area. Usually this vegetable is cooked as a soup using minced meat and egg.

And from one of my food review from a Zhi Char - 煮炒摊 that we ordered this “Kau Khee Soup - 九杞菜汤/枸杞菜汤”, I came up with an one-pot dish "recipe" with these ingredients too. If you prefer it to be served as soup like what shown above, you can always whipped it up at home with simple ingredients such as egg and minced meat.

Fu Gui Cai

Saw this very interesting leafy vegetable from the wet market. It seems to look like a bunch of blooming flower with a lot of small leaves attached to it. According to the stall owner, this is called "Fu Gui Cai - 富贵菜". To me it seems like those mini "Xiao Bai Cai" that stick together to form a bouquet of flower. The stall owner told me that, to consume, just remove the individual leaf then clean them as usual and you can stir-fry with either minced garlic or prawns. And this plant, usually can only be found during Chinese New Year season.

So if you happen to see this vegetable, or you already have some ideas about this. Do share your tips and experience with us so that we can learn more about this interesting vegetable.

Common Root Vegetables

These are some of the common Root Vegetables that I usually use for making soup or stir-fry. You can easily find them in the locate supermarket or wet market. When you add these wonderful vegetables with some pork ribs or chicken drumsticks together with some herbs. You will have a pot of delicious homemade stew soup that everyone in the family will love.



Fresh Huai Shan(鲜淮山)
It tastes sweet and of neutral nature. It nourishes the lungs and kidneys, strengthens the spleens, stops diarrhea, uplifts the spirit and benefits Qi. Usually I used those Fresh Huai Shan instead of the dried type.

Fresh Lotus Root(莲藕)
Uncooked lotus root juice can clear heat and stop all internal bleeding; cooked lotus root can promote blood, treat women of anemia due to heavy menstruation, clear and improve energy.

Green Carrot/Green Radish(青萝卜)
Green Luobo (Qingluobo): A popular green variety in North China. Green flesh with green skin is crisp, less hot. High yielding. Good resistance to diseases as well as delicious and tender

Carrot(红萝卜)
Carrots can be eaten raw, whole, chopped or grated into salads for color, and are also often chopped and cooked in soups and stews. A well known dish is Carrots Julienne. One can also make carrot cake and carrot pudding. The greens are edible as a leaf vegetable, but are rarely eaten.

White Radish(白萝卜)
Other names are daikon radish, Japanese radish or winter radish. It is very low in calories. A 3 ounce serving contains only 18 calories and provides 34 percent of the RDA for vitamin C. Rich in vitamin C, daikon contains active enzymes that aid digestion, particularly of starchy foods. Select those that feel heavy and have lustrous skin and fresh leaves.

Here are some examples of soup using the above ingredients:

Green Carrot & Cordyceps Soup

Lotus, Black Bean & Peanut Soup

Lotus, Huai Shan & Pork Ribs Soup

Trio Carrot & Fish Paste Meatball Soup

Trio Carrot & Pork Ribs Soup

more soup recipes........