Chinese sweet potato and ginger soup is a traditional Chinese dessert. With a hint of sweetness and a strong kick of ginger, it revitalizes your mind when served chilled, and warm your body when served hot. It works wonders during winter months or when you come down with a cold. Although a favorite in the dessert houses in Hong Kong, it can be just as easily prepared at home. It is a quick and easy dessert.
Prep Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 inch long ginger, sliced or crushed (adjust amount to your preference [1])
- 4 cup water
- 4 tablespoon brown sugar or 1 slab Chinese block or rock sugar
[2]
Optional
- 1/2 cup Chinese red dates
[3]
Directions
- Pour water into a medium pot and bring to a boil.
- Place sweet potatoes and ginger into pot. Add dates if desired.
- Simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, until the sweet potatoes are softened.
- Stir in sugar until dissolved.
- Remove from heat. Discard ginger if desired.
Footnotes
- [1] Adjust amount of ginger to your preference: In Chinese medicine, ginger is the spice of life. Feel free to increase the amount of ginger if you enjoy an even stronger kick of ginger. If you prefer a milder taste or plan to serve the soup to young children, it may be a good idea to reduce the amount of ginger.
- [2] Chinese rock or block sugar
Commonly used in Southeastern Chinese desserts, Chinese rock or block sugar adds a nice golden color and smooth sweetness. It is available for purchase in Asian grocery stores.
- [3] Chinese red dates
Jujubes are known as red dates (Hong Zao 紅棗) and a super food in China. Chinese herbal medicine believes that red dates help build yang qi which warm half of the yin-yang balance in the body, and have the properties to strengthen the spleen and stomach. Red dates are also used in Chinese kitchens from porridge, soups, buns, to desserts. Red dates can be found in most Asian groceries.
