Old Duck Soup (老鸭汤)

• servings: 3-4 servings
• active time: 10 minute
• total time: 1 hour 10 minute

Ingredients

1/2 Old duck (about 500-600g) chopped into chunks

500g winter melon

1/4 cup Job's Tears

4 slices of fresh ginger

4 pieces of red dates (pitted)

1 teaspoon salt , or to taste

1 teaspoon cooking wine

water just enough to cover the ingredient

Directions

1. Rehydrate job's tears; Simply rinse the job's tears and soak them for 15 minutes in advance.

2. Place the old duck in a pot with cold water, and add fresh ginger slices and cooking wine.

3. Bring to a rolling boil over heat, skim off all the foam, and cook for 3 minutes before removing. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, drain, and set aside.

4. Wash the winter melon and simply cut it into large chunks.

5. Add the duck, fresh ginger slices, red dates, and Job's tears into a pot, and add water. Heat to a boil, then turn the heat low and simmer for 30 minutes.

6. Add winter melon and contiune simmer for 20 minutes, until it becomes soft and translucent.

7. Add salt just before turning off the heat

Notes

Old duck-Nourish Yin and Replenish Deficiency

Winter melon- Strengthens the Spleen and resolves Dampness

Red dates- Nourishes the blood and calms the spirit; strengthens the spleen and harmonizes the stomach.

Job's tears- Strengthens the Spleen and resolves Dampness