Chayote Soup with Carrots and Black Fungus

Made a comfort soup a few days ago and decided to share here. This chayote soup combination gives a good source of potassium, which helps to control blood pressure.

Chayote

The pear-looking chayote (佛手瓜) belongs to the gourd family. In the past, I used to pass by the chayote counter and gave it a blank stare because I don’t know what to do with it. Now, I like to use it for soup.

Chayote is a nourishing vegetable that beautifies skin and helps with digestion. It is also prized for being high in potassium and amino acids.

Additional ingredients used are the black fungus which helps to clear the blood vessels to prevent blood clotting and lower cholesterol. I also throw in figs which also contains potassium. Figs also strengthen the spleen and lubricate our intestines thus help to relieve constipation.

See my earlier post on Fish Maw Mushroom Soup for my explanation on spleen and recipe to nourish our spleen.

Please avoid large intake of black fungus if you are pregnant.

Ingredients

2 chayote

2 large carrots

6 to 8 figs.  Figs enhance the sweetness of the soup.

1 piece of black fungus

500g lean meat (chicken/pork)

3 litres of water

I know the picture is totally unappetizing. Sorry I haven’t got the hang of taking beautiful food photos.  But trust me, this sweet comfort soup tastes awesome.

Method

Rinse all ingredients.

Blanch meat to remove its impurities and place meat into a pot of boiling water.

Cut chayote into half to take out the seeds and cut the gourd further into large pieces.

Soak the black fungus in water until soft. Change the water a couple of times to help remove any odour from the fungus.

Peel carrots and cut into large bites.

Place all these ingredients into the water. Bring to a boil over high heat and reduces to low heat. Simmer for another 2 to 3 hours.

Season the soup with salt and enjoy.

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