Eight-Diagram Soup

Eight-Diagram Soup

　　A traditional delicacy from Xiaotaoyuan Stewed Soup Restaurant in Wuhan. Since the turtle’s back shell resembles the ancient Eight-Diagram diagram, people also call it the Eight Diagrams, and soup made with turtle meat is thus named Eight-Diagram Soup. This dish was already famous both at home and abroad in the late Qing Dynasty. Many foreign tourists visiting China and domestic travelers to Wuhan always make a point to visit Xiaotaoyuan to try this dish, regarding it as a “longevity dish” that keeps one forever young and extends life to a hundred years.

　　Ingredients

　　2 squabs (each about 400g); 1 live turtle, 5g scallion bundle, 3g ginger pieces, 10g cordyceps, 500g clear chicken broth.

　　Preparation

　　1. Clean the live turtle, remove the head and feet, and cut into pieces. Rinse the cordyceps with warm water.

　　2. Heat a wok, stir-fry with the scallion bundle and ginger pieces, then add the turtle meat, turtle liver, and salt, and stir-fry for 5 minutes. Transfer to a clay pot, add the cordyceps and clear chicken broth, and simmer over high heat for 2 hours. Then add turtle eggs and simmer until the soup thickens. Finally, transfer to a steamer and steam for half an hour before serving.