Seaweed Soup

It's that time of year for me to make lots of soup and last night I made one one of my childhood favorites - Seaweed Soup. I was given this soup a lot when I didn't sleep enough as it is so good for your Kidneys. This is a simple soup using Nori Seaweed - the same kind used for Sushi. It is added to Chicken Broth - preferably homemade - with bits of ground pork, which is traditional or ground chicken and cubes of tofu. You could add clams if you like too. It is garnished with Green Onions and seasoned with a bit of Tamari and Toasted Sesame Oil. You can easily make it vegetarian by using Vegetable Broth or Miso. It comes together in minutes and it tastes like the sea. It cooks in no time at all and is warm and nurturing. Although it is not a bone broth, the Seaweed is full of minerals, so this soup is also very good for your bones!  

Seaweed Soup

8 cups Chicken Broth (preferably homemade) - dilute 1/3 with water if using canned broth

1/4 cup ground Pork or ground Chicken

1/2 pound Firm Tofu, cut into small cubes

1 package of Nori Seaweed (10 Sheets), cut into small squares with scissors

3 Green Onions, sliced fine

2 - 3 Tablespoons Tamari

2 teaspoons Toasted Sesame Oil

Sprinkling of White Pepper to serve

Bring the Chicken Broth to a boil in a soup pot. When boiling, add in the ground Pork or Chicken and stir briskly to separate the clumps. Add in the Tofu and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 10 minutes. Then add in the Nori Seaweed, Green Onions, Tamari and Sesame Oil. Serve in large bowls and sprinkle White Pepper on top.

Five Element Analysis

Soup belongs to the Water Element and the Seaweed and pork if you use it along with the Tamari and Sesame Oil add even more so this is an especially Watery Soup. The Chicken Broth and chicken if you are using it, brings in the Wood Element. The Tofu and Green Onions bring in the Metal Element. Only the Black Pepper contributes the Fire Element so be sure to serve it with something Fiery and perhaps spicy hot and the Earth Element is missing so bring something in the meal that adds that too for a Five Element balance.