Pig's Tail with Huai San

This is a yummy recipe that Mummy had gotten from the newspaper. The recipe is for improving of the digestive system and helps in appetite. Not that we need to improve our appetite but the 2 main ingredients, huai san and foxnuts are good tonics for the spleen and stomach as well. This is a soup for the whole family, adults or young children especially for those kids who has poor appetite.

However cos of the pig's tail, those with heaty constitution are not recommended to drink too much of this. Or alternatively can use pork ribs or fish head to replace. But do remember to get a fresh fish head.

Ingredients
1 pig’s tail, chopped
1 piece of fresh dioscorea yam (生淮山)
10 dried Chinese red dates
2 dried scallops, rinsed
20 lotus seeds　(莲子)
*10g of Foxnuts (茨实)
A handful of chinese barley
1 litre water

Seasoning
1/2 tsp salt to taste

Method
Rinse pig’s tail. Scald in a saucepan of boiling water for 1–2 minutes. Drain well and place all ingredients in a slow cooker and slow cook on high for 2½–3 hours. If cook over small fire, cook for 1.5-2 hours. Add huai san in the last half an hour for better taste texture.
Season to taste

Pictures of some of the ingredients in case it sounds "foreign" to some of you.

芡实 Gordon fruit, Foxnut


生淮山Huai San (fresh dioscorea yam)


Soup in making