Chinese Daikon (Radish) Soup

Warm and nourishing, this soup is simple and packed with flavours. A good choice to make in the winter time. The daikons are so soft and tender. They are also good source of fibre. Chinese daikon (white radish) can be easily found in Vietnamese restaurants as pickles. In Chinese cooking, it can be found in stir fries, soups and steamed cakes. This soup is known to aid digestion and upset stomach. It is also believed to have cleansing properties and moisturizing our lungs.

The philosophy of Yin (cold) and Yang (hot) is the centre of Chinese culture and diet. Neither Yin nor Yang is bad. In order to achieve an optimal state of health, one must balance these 2 energies in their body. Hence, food choices and cooking method are very important. Yin food tend to be cold and provides moisture to the body. Some of the example of Yin foods are cucumber, daikon, watercress and cabbage. Yang is perceived to be hot and warms your body. Sesame oil, wine, ginger and hot peppers are some of the examples of Yang food. 

This Chinese Daikon (Radish) Soup is a reflection of Yin and Yang balance in Chinese diet. The coldness of Chinese daikons is balanced with the heat from ginger. Should you want to make this soup in the summer time, then, you can remove the ginger so the "coldness" of the soup can calm your body in the summer heat.

Skill Level: Easy

Serves: 6 - 8

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 lb pork neck bone or pork ribs (request your butcher to cut into small pieces)
• 1 medium white radish 
• 1 small green radish  
• 1 carrot
• 4 dried shitake mushrooms
• 1 tomato
• 1 can of chicken broth 
• 3 tbsp goji berries
• 1 knob of ginger, bruised
• 2 L water
• 1/2 tbsp salt

METHOD: 

1. Soak dried shitake mushrooms with boiling water for 20 minutes. Once soft, cut into quarters
2. In a soup pot, cover 1 lb of pork neck bone or pork ribs with enough water and bring to a boil to remove impurities
3. Drain and clean the pork bones/pork ribs with cold water
4. In a clean soup pot, boil 2 L of water with 1 can of chicken broth and add in cleaned pork bone, ginger, goji berries and 1/2 tbsp of salt. Once boiled, lower the heat and cook for another 15 minutes
5. Cut the white and green radishes, carrots and tomatoes into bite sizes
6. Add into the soup pot, bring to boil
7. Once boiled, bring the heat lower and simmer for another hour