Soups
Seaweed, Tofu and Lean Pork Soup
Traditionally used to clear heat, promote urination and support healthy blood pressure
Why people make this soup
At a Taiwan food fair in a department store, Bro Niu — who has a soft spot for Taiwanese products — spotted wild laver seaweed on sale. This wild laver is wonderfully fragrant and marked “grit-free”; he’d bought it before and found it delicious in soups, dishes, and especially in soup noodles. This seaweed and tofu soup is traditionally used to clear heat, promote urination, ease phlegm and support healthy blood pressure — helpful for people watching high blood pressure, cholesterol or blood lipids.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- A light everyday soup for those wanting to support healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and blood lipids; also traditionally said to benefit those with goitre or lymphatic concerns.
- A general wellness soup; it doesn’t replace medical treatment for diagnosed conditions.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Laver seaweed (zi cai): rich in naturally occurring iodine; traditionally used to clear heat and soften lumps. Note the iodine dissolves easily into water, so the soaking water goes into the soup.
- Tofu (dou fu): light and cooling, a gentle protein that suits a clearing soup.
- Lean pork (shou rou): adds savoury body without heaviness.
- Green peas and egg white (qing dou, dan qing): round out the soup with colour and a silky finish.
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Laver seaweed | 1 small pinch | soaked; keep the soaking water |
| Tofu | 2 blocks | cut into thick strips |
| Lean pork | ~113 g (3 liang) | shredded |
| Green peas | 2 tablespoons | |
| Fresh ginger | 2 slices | |
| Egg white | 1 |
Method
- Soak the laver seaweed in clean water. Shred the lean pork and cut the tofu into thick strips.
- Bring 4 bowls of water to the boil, then add all the ingredients (including the seaweed soaking water).
- Boil about 10 minutes, then stir in the egg white. Serve the soup and the ingredients together.
Bro Niu’s tips
The iodine in laver seaweed dissolves easily into water, so add the soaking water to the soup. This soup is also traditionally said to benefit those with goitre or lymphatic concerns.
(The source comments did not include a general recipe Q&A for this dish, so this section is omitted.)
Published September 30, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
