Foundation Renewal – Nourishing Soup

Foundation Renewal – herbal blend for traditional nourishing soup

In ancient China, care for health was closely connected with diet and everyday lifestyle. People tried to live, eat and behave in a way that remained in harmony with the natural influences surrounding them. Balanced food and traditional herbal ingredients therefore became a natural part of daily cooking.

One of the traditional dishes of Chinese dietetics was a nourishing herbal soup, prepared from a rich broth, vegetables and selected herbs. The herbal blend Foundation Renewal is designed specifically as an ingredient for preparing such a soup.

The mixture is composed according to the principles of traditional Chinese dietetics. In the terminology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, its ingredients are associated with supporting balance between Qi (vital energy) and Yin (the nourishing and moistening aspect of the body).

Herbs such as Ren Shen, Shan Yao and Da Zao are traditionally associated with supporting Qi.
Bai Mu Er, Gou Qi Zi and Hei Zhi Ma are traditionally described as ingredients that nourish Yin.
Dang Gui is known in Chinese herbal tradition as a herb associated with nourishing the blood.

The blend is intended as a culinary ingredient for preparing a traditional nourishing soup inspired by the principles of Chinese dietetics.

Content:
15 g herbal blend

Ingredients for the soup

For a richer version of the soup, you may use 1 kg of beef (preferably lean beef).

Another option is one whole chicken, which gives the soup a milder and lighter character.

The meats can also be combined, for example ½ chicken and ½ kg of beef.

Vegetarian option:
grain and soybeans in a ratio of 2 : 1 (approx. 150 g : 75 g).

Additional ingredients:

• 2 large carrots

• 1/4 small celery root

• 1/4 cabbage

• 1 large onion

• 4 slices fresh ginger

• 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast

• salt

• soy sauce (Shoyu or Tamari)

• allspice

• black peppercorns

• bay leaf

• caraway seeds

• 1 packet of the herbal blend Foundation Renewal

Optional finishing:
barley miso and sesame paste Tahini.

Preparation

Place the cleaned meat (or overnight-soaked soybeans with grains) into a pressure cooker. Add water – part of the water may be replaced with red wine – salt, onion, peppercorns, allspice, caraway seeds, bay leaf and one packet of the herbal blend Foundation Renewal.

Cook under pressure for at least 2 hours.

Strain the broth through a sieve into a pot. Add sliced vegetables, ginger, nutritional yeast and soy sauce. Add boiling water if needed and cook for about 20 minutes.

Finally add the meat pieces or the prepared grains with soybeans.

On the plate, the soup may be seasoned with a small amount of barley miso and sesame paste Tahini.

The prepared soup can be stored in a refrigerator for approximately 4 days.

Disclaimer:
The terms Qi, Yin and similar concepts come from the terminology of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese dietetics and do not represent approved health claims under EU legislation.