It is said that in ancient China, the healers were paid only when the emperors and village people were well. If they got sick, the healers were no longer paid until they were made well again. Quite the opposite of our society in which we pay our healers when we are sick. Sadly, in our society, health is not profitable, disease is. Hopefully we can flip that paradigm. As my dear friend, Kay Nelson used to say: pay your farmer, not your doctor. Paying more for food that is good, clean and fair will help you spend less on disease.
In 2002, after taking a yearlong program in Chinese herbal medicine, I created this soup based on the principles I learned in the course. This is a great quick soup to make for yourself when you are feeling under the weather. The ginger and garlic and shiitakes will boost your immune system. Ginger is a warming herb that will help drive the cold out of your system. Scallions and the warm broth will relieve stuffed nasal passages. Most importantly, this soup is delicious.
Chinese Medicinal Chicken Soup
Organic chicken broth or veggie broth
1 medium piece Ginger root
2 cloves Garlic, minced
6-8 Shiitake mushrooms
2-3 Carrots, grated
1 bunch Bok choy
1 medium Onion, thinly sliced
Scallions for garnish
Thin rice noodles
Toasted sesame oil
- Heat broth in soup pot with some grated ginger.
- Lightly sauté garlic in olive oil for 1-2 minutes
- Add diced onions, sliced shitakes and sauté 3 more minutes.
- Add white parts of bok choy
- After 2 minutes, add the shredded green parts of the bok choy.
- Season with toasted sesame oil.
- Add sauté mixture to broth along with grated carrots.
- Simmer broth for a few minutes to soften the carrots.
- Put some rice noodles in each bowl
- Add broth and garnish with scallions
