Chinese Sargassum Soup (海藻湯)

Grandma’s Chinese Sargassum Soup is a simple seaweed soup you won’t find in restaurants! It’s packed with nutrients because it uses a homemade stock, plus you’ll get all the health benefits of the seaweed itself. Just soak, rinse and toss into a pot of stock then you’re ready to go.

For all the seaweed lovers, enjoy it in a dessert with our Ching Bo Leung (清補涼)!

An authentic recipe you’ll only find at home

Grandma’s Sargassum Soup isn’t something you’ll find outside a Chinese home. When that happens, you know the dish is authentic to the cuisine.

Much like her BBQ Pork Leg and Choy Gorn Congee and Steamed Lemongrass Pork With Shrimp Paste, they’re the few dishes that you’d probably only know if you grew up in a Cantonese-Vietnamese household because even restaurants don’t make them.

And that’s what makes this recipe so special.

I had to dig deep into my memories of Grandma’s weeknight soups to remember that it even existed. So here’s to preserving yet another homey classic!

If you’ve never tried this soup before, it’s definitely worth having. Not only is it an easy no-fuss weeknight recipe, you’ll ensure your family’s fed a nutritious soup packed with vitamins and minerals.

The texture of the seaweed’s also a treat – it’s tender and silky so you get a melt-in-your-mouth experience. That’s paired with a subtle savory broth rich with chicken and pork bones.

For an authentic experience you’ll only find at home, try our family recipe this week!

All about sargassum

What it is

Fresh sargassum is a type of seaweed found in shallow tropical waters. They’re green and brown in color and can stretch for long distances across the ocean.

When dried, they resemble black strings that are hard and thin (much like a thicker version of the black moss that we braise with mushrooms). They’re flexible in their dried and rehydrated state, but are only eaten when rehydrated.

Taste

The first thing that you’ll notice when eating this type of seaweed is the texture. It’s slightly slimy when thick, but the smaller thinner ones are on the firmer and crunchier side.

There isn’t much taste to it besides the slight taste of the sea (as lots of marine life will). When cooked into a Chinese Sargassum Soup, the ingredients take on a savory undertone because of the light seasoning.

Health Benefits

The seaweed is known to be high in vitamins, minerals, fiber, carbohydrates and protein. They’re also rich in iodine, which is beneficial to the health of thyroids.

Their dense nutrient content is believed to aid in regulating the heart as well as keeping the eyes healthy.

For such a budget-friendly ingredient with so many health benefits, I’d say it’s worth making Grandma’s Chinese Sargassum Soup this week!

Why this recipe works

• Soaking the seaweed gives it a chance to rehydrate so you can easily clean and remove any impurities.
• Using a homemade stock means you have complete control over the taste so that it’s flavored to preference.
• Adding honey dates adds a subtle sweetness without the need for sugar.

What you’ll need

About the ingredients

We get all the dried ingredients from Chinese medicinal shops. They’re sold dehydrated and in plastic bags. You can find the honey dates at Asian grocery stores as well.

How to make this recipe

Rinse then soak the sargassum and rehmannia glutinosa in cool water for 30 minutes or until the seaweed has expanded and softened.

Pour the ingredients into a colander to drip dry.

Bring the pot of stock to a boil and add the soaked ingredients in along with the salt and chicken bouillon powder. Let it come back to a boil, then turn the heat down to medium heat.

Have the soup simmer for 15 minutes, then serve immediately as is!

Recipe FAQs

Tips for the best results

• Avoid soaking the seaweed for too long. This will make it mushier, which won’t be as enjoyable to eat.
• Keep the seasoning simple. This recipe has a mild flavor profile, which is perfect to pair with weeknight dinners, so you don’t want to overpower the natural taste.
• Clean the sargassum well. Rinse it a few more times if needed so that the dirt and impurities can be rinsed away.

What to serve it with

• Smashed Cucumber Salad (拍黄瓜) will get everyone’s appetite going.
• Make a pot of rice to serve with side dishes including Steamed Chicken with Mushrooms and Dried Lily Flowers, Eggplant and Pork Mince Stir Fry and Chinese Steamed Egg (蒸水蛋).
• Stir Fried Pea Shoots with Garlic is a great way to add healthy greens to your dinner.
• Kick things up a notch with spicy XO Sauce (XO 酱).
• Make Grass Jelly and Taro Balls ahead of time for a refreshingly cool dessert!

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