10 TCM recipes for every health need

For heart health: Lingzhi Mushroom Spare Ribs Soup

1/10

Why it’s good for you: Lingzhi mushrooms and American ginseng are used to alleviate blood pressure, and cardiovascular and cholesterol problems.

 

Serves 10

Ingredients  

600g spare ribs, blanched in boiling water and removed

2l water

15g American ginseng

15g lingzhi mushroom

20g dried longans

10 red dates

2 tsp ginger liqueur*

2 stalks green onion, sliced thinly

2 slices fresh ginger

A pinch of salt

 

*Available at all Eu Yang Sang outlets

 

Directions

1. Put the spare ribs in a pot with the water, and add all the other ingredients except for the salt.

2. Bring the soup to the boil then let it simmer for 1 hour.

3. Add salt to taste, and serve.

 

Tip: For greater effectiveness, add a few more lingzhi mushrooms. But note that this also makes the soup more bitter. You can add a handful of Chinese wolfberries to neutralise some of the bitterness.

For a healthy respiratory system: Chilled Abalone with Liquorice Root and Solomon’s Seal

2/10

Why it’s good for you: Solomon’s seal is known to soothe the throat and lungs. Liquorice root loosens and thins out mucus in the airways, helping to ease congestion and coughing. It also helps to relax bronchial spasms.

 

Serves 1

Ingredients  

For the sauce:

500g chicken feet

500g lean meat

200g oyster sauce

500g American ginseng, mashed

100g spring onions

100g ginger

60g rock sugar

2 duck feet

3l water

 

4 pieces gan cao (licorice root)

4 pieces Solomon’s seal

1 tbsp wheat starch or dim sum flour*

1 fresh abalone

 

*Available at all leading supermarkets

 

Directions

1. Combine all the sauce ingredients in a pot and boil for 1 hour.

2. Portion out 1kg of the sauce, add the liquorice root and Solomon’s seal, and cook for 30min. Add wheat starch to thicken the sauce. Set aside to cool.

3. Steam the abalone for 1 hour to soften. Remove and soak for 1min in the sauce.

4. Slice the abalone, drizzle with more sauce and serve.

For mental clarity: Duck Infused with American Ginseng

3/10

Why it’s good for you: American ginseng is known to improve mental performance and reduce memory loss.

 

Serves 10

Ingredients  

For the sauce:

100g American ginseng

200ml water

½ tsp chicken seasoning powder

2 tbsp vegetable stock

1 tbsp wheat starch

 

For the meat:

3-4 duck drumsticks, whole or deboned

150g American ginseng, mashed

500ml water

150g vegetable stock

A pinch of salt

 

 

Directions

1. Mix 100g of American ginseng with 200g of water. Place mixture into the steamer and steam for two hours.

2. Stir in chicken seasoning powder and vegetable stock. Then thicken with wheat starch and set aside.

3. Wash the duck and allow it to dry.

4. Combine remaining American ginseng, water, vegetable stock and salt in a bowl and marinate the duck for two to three hours. Then, drain the water and wrap the duck in cling film.

5. Put the marinated duck into a steamer and steam for approximately 1.5 hours.

6.  Remove and set aside to cool. Slice the duck, and pour the prepared sauce over it. 

For better digestion: Fish Maw with Lotus Root Soup

4/10

Why it’s good for you: Lotus root is packed with dietary fibre and reduces symptoms of constipation while optimising nutrient absorption through the secretion of digestive and gastric juices.

 

Serves 10

Ingredients  

20g fried fish maw

150g lean pork, cut into bite-sized pieces

1.2l water

 

10g shouwu (flowery knotweed)

300g fresh lotus root

5 red dates, unpitted

10g dried longan

10g bai xian pi (white dittany bark)

2 slices fresh ginger

A little salt

 

Directions

1. Soak the fried fish maw until soft, about 3 to 4 hours.

2. Scald the pork in hot water and set aside. 

3. Bring the water to a boil, add the pork and fish maw, and all the other ingredients in the recipe except for the salt. Simmer for 1 hour.

4. Add salt to taste and serve.

           

Tip: This dish is also good for mothers in confinement who experience dryness or have blood-stained discharge. The longer the lotus root is cooked, the greater the soup’s blood-nourishing properties. 

For greater vitality: Lotus And Ginseng with Black-Boned Chicken Soup

5/10

Why it’s good for you: Lotus seeds help to regulate energy levels in the body. They possess calming properties that alleviate restlessness, heart palpitations and insomnia. Black chicken is great for boosting your vital energy. It contains twice the amount of carnosin – an antioxidant that fights inflammation – as regular chicken, and has a lower fat content.

 

Serves 10

Ingredients  

1 black-boned chicken, skin removed and cut into bite-sized pieces

20g lotus seeds

10g American ginseng

15g rou cong rong (cistanche root)

20g Chinese yam

15g Chinese wolfberry

25g dried scallops

2 slices fresh ginger

2 stalks green onions, thinly sliced 

1tbsp ginger liqueur

A dash of white pepper

Salt, to taste

 

Directions

1. Scald the chicken in hot water and set aside.

2. Boil the lotus seeds for 15 minutes in a pot until tender.

3. Place all the ingredients, except for the salt, into a double boiler. Add enough water to just cover the ingredients. Double-boil for 1.5 hours.

4. Add salt to taste and serve.

 

Tip: “Black” recipes such as this one can encourage growth in children. In adults, it can help improve fertility and boost weak sexual drive.

For strong bones: Braised Abalone and Mushrooms with Broccoli

6/10

Why it’s good for you: Garlic and broccoli have high calcium content and are good for the bones. Mushrooms are an alkaline food that nourishes the bones.

 

Serves 4

Ingredients  

½ cup broccoli

1 can braised abalone*

5 dried mushrooms*

1 tsp oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 pieces cloves

*Available at all Eu Yan Sang outlets

 

Directions

1. Cut the broccoli to bite-sized pieces and soak in salted cold water for 10min.

2. Cook the broccoli in boiling water for 5min, drain and place on a plate with the abalone, either whole or sliced. Set the sauce from the can aside.

3. Soak the mushrooms until soft, then drain.

4. Heat up the oil in a pan and stir-fry the mushrooms and garlic until fragrant.

5. Add abalone sauce from the can. Simmer over low heat for 30min.

6. Pour the mushrooms and sauce and serve.

For women’s health: Chicken Bak Foong Nourishing Soup

7/10

Why it’s good for you: Chicken boosts qi and nourishes the blood. Add Eu Yan Sang Bak Foong pills to alleviate menstrual cramps, improve the health of your womb and maintain vitality.

 

Serves 4

Ingredients  

1 whole chicken, skin removed  

¼ piece tangerine peel

8 bowls water

20g Eu Yan Sang Gold Label Bak Foong Pills*

5 red dates

A pinch of salt

*Available at all Eu Yan Sang outlets

 

Directions

1. Wash the chicken and remove innards, head and tail.  

2. Soak tangerine peel in water until soft.

3. In a pot, add the water and tangerine peel in pot, and bring to the boil.

4. Add the bak foong pills, and red dates, and simmer over slow heat for three hours.

5. Add salt to taste and serve.

For detoxification: Fresh Arugula Salad with Black Sesame

8/10

Why it’s good for you: Arugula, a cruciferous vegetable, is a detoxifying, cancer-fighting superfood that is also high in fibre and antioxidants.

 

Serves 4

Ingredients  

1 cup buckwheat grains*

1 tsp black sesame seeds

2 tbsp sesame oil

2 tbsp lemon juice

1 tomato, cut lengthwise into strips with seeds removed

1 bundle arugula (rocket leaves)

500g (convert to metric) fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined

Salt and pepper, to taste

 

*Available at all leading supermarkets

 

Directions

1. Simmer the buckwheat grains in hot water until tender. Strain the grains and leave them to cool.

2. In a bowl, prepare the salad dressing by combining the sesame seeds, sesame oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper as needed.

3. Add the buckwheat and tomatoes together in a salad bowl.

4. Pan-fry the shrimp for 2 to 4 minutes on medium-high heat, until pink. (more details – how to fry, for how long etc) Toss with the tomatoes, buckwheat and dressing. Serve warm. 

For beautiful skin: Bird’s Nest with Red Bean Paste and Fresh Orange Peel

9/10

Why it’s good for you: Traditionally used as a beauty food to retain youthfulness, bird’s nest is rich in epidermal growth factor (EGF), which is responsible for skin and tissue repair.

 

Serves 2-3

Ingredients  

2 cups red beans, washed and soaked overnight

Rock sugar, to taste

1 bottle bird’s nest

Peel of 1 orange (also zest a little for garnish)

 

Directions

1. Fill a pot with water until it’s three-quarters full. Add the soaked red beans, bring to the boil and add rock sugar to taste.

2. Add the fresh orange peel and lower the heat to medium.

3. Cook until the water is absorbed and the beans are soft and pasty.

4. Pour the red bean paste into a bowl, add a scoop of bird’s nest without the syrup, garnish with orange zest and serve.

For better sleep: Double-Braised Mushrooms with Chicken

10/10

Why it’s good for you: According to TCM principles, disruptive or restless sleep is caused by accumulated heat in the body. Chicken nourishes the blood and boosts qi or vital energy to restore balance. Similarly, black wood-ear mushrooms can help treat deficiencies relating to the heart.

 

Serves 2-3

Ingredients

300g chicken, washed and cut into bite-sized chunks and dabbed dry

1 tbsp light soya sauce

2cm ginger, thinly sliced

1 tbsp cornstarch

15g American ginseng

10 red dates, unpitted

20g yuan zhi (polygala roots)

25g fresh black wood-ear mushrooms

1 yellow pepper, cut into bite-sized pieces

A pinch of salt

 

Directions

1. Place the chicken in a bowl, and add ½ tbsp light soya sauce and ginger. Marinate for 20min.

3. Coat the chicken with cornstarch and stir-fry until the meat turns yellowish. Remove from the pan and set aside. 

4. In a claypot, add the water, American ginseng, red dates and polygala roots, and simmer for 30min.

5. Add the mushrooms, yellow pepper and remaining soya sauce. Continue to simmer until it is almost dry. Add salt to taste and serve.