Huguo Vegetable

Last updated 2026-11-13 — Huguo Vegetable is primarily made with sweet potato leaves. There is a legend behind its origin. It is said that when the emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty fled south and took refuge in a temple in Chaozhou, he was starving. The monks wanted to prepare an elaborate meal to welcome him, but unfortunately, there were no fine ingredients in the temple. In the end, they picked a handful of tender sweet potato leaves from the backyard and cooked them into a soup to serve the emperor. After eating it, the emperor was finally satisfied, and he bestowed upon the dish the name “Huguo Vegetable” (Protect-the-Nation Vegetable). Later, the dish spread to local eateries and, through the refinement by master chefs, became a renowned delicacy. Nowadays, the dish is prepared with shiitake mushrooms and ham as supplementary ingredients, and is simmered in premium broth. The soup has a vibrant green color, topped with a rich layer of oil, yet remains savory without being greasy.