Soap beans, silver ears and peach gum

Recipe | snow fungus and snow pear sweet soup

Snow fungus and snow pear sweet soup [Photo by Pauline D. Loh/China Daily]

Ingredients (serves 2):

10g snow fungus, soaked in plenty of water until it blooms

1 snow pear (Nashi pear)

30g mixed apricot kernels (nanbeixing)

Rock sugar to taste

Method:

1. Peel and core the pears and cut the fruit into little cubes.

2. Snip the snow fungus into little florets.

3. Heat up 800 ml water in a saucepan and bring to a bowl, add the mixed apricot kernels and pear cubes. Add the snow fungus.

4. Bring to a boil and reduce immediately to a low simmer for about 40 minutes or until the pear and fungus buds are very soft. Add rock sugar to taste.

5. Serve hot for best effect.

NOTE: Mixed apricot kernels or nanbeixing is a mixture of the larger, sweeter heart-shaped "southern" apricot kernels, and the smaller "northern" kernels with its bitter almond flavor. You can buy the mixture from medicine shops, groceries or from larger supermarkets.