Yen Can Cook ~ Yacon and Corn Soup
Yacon 雪莲果, is a perennial root vegetable that looks something like a sweet potato but the texture and flavour are very similar to jicama, sweet and crunchy.
Yacon tuber roots are used to produce sweet syrup and powder since the root juices hold a great deal of fructooligosaccharides which is a polysaccharide made up of fructose. This polysaccharide is sweet tasting but indigestible when it reaches the gut meaning that it holds no calorific value and passes directly through the body. Yacon root also has prebiotic action which the fructooligosaccharides act as a food to the healthy bacteria in the lower intestine promoting their effectiveness. Having a good amount of healthy bacteria is important to the digestion and immunity.
Solomon’s Seal 玉竹 (Yuk Zhu), is a genus of flowering plants and the root part is dried and used as Chinese medical herb. According to traditional Chinese medicine, Yuk Zhu is mildly cooling and nourishes the lung and stomach. The herb is also known to moisten dryness in the lungs and strengthen the stomach. It can relieve dry throat or dry heaty coughs.
Ingredients (Serve: 3-4)
1/2 chicken(approximately 500g – 600g), cut into pieces
1 yacon, cut into chunks
1 carrot, cut into chunks
1 corn, cut into chunks
20g Solomon’s Seal (Yuk Zhu), rinsed.
6-8 red dates, de-seeded
2500ml water
Salt to taste
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Step 1: Put the chicken into a pot of water and bring to boil, to remove blood and impurities. Remove, drain and set aside.
Step 2: Put all the ingredients (except salt) into a pot and add in water until enough to immerse all the ingredients. Bring to boil and lower the heat and let the soup simmer for 2-3 hours.
Step 3: Add salt to taste and serve.
HAPPY COOKING! #stayhealthy








I have not heard of yakon before. Is it easily available at the supermarket? Your soup is so nourishing and tasty too with all the ingredients and added herbs.
PH, yacon is commonly available now if compared with last few years when I was introduced to this root vegetable. Actually it can be eat raw like fruit if Chinese style boiled soup not your thing 😛
this must be a beautiful-tasting soup with a lot of natural sweetness – one of those ‘evergreen’ recipes that 8-year-olds and 80-year-olds will all enjoy 😉
Sean, love the sweetness of those ingredients that infused into the broth, no seasoning was needed 🙂
That is one nourishing soup….I know bacon, I don’t know yacon….kekeke! 😉
Kris, now you know both bacon & yacon, LOL
I’ve never tried this yacon before, maybe it’s about time!
KY, I’m not sure if yacon is a seasonal vegetables as I didn’t see them during my last grocery shopping.
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