Original recipe by Karen Wang, Certified Nutritionist & Chef
In traditional Chinese cuisine, Western-style desserts such as cakes and ice creams are rarely served after a meal because they are very acidic and may cause indigestion.
This warming and nourishing classic dessert soup is perfect when you want something sweet and healthy.
Walnut trees date back to about 7,000 BCE and are among the oldest trees used by humans. They are believed to have originated in Persia and then spread to Central Asia and China with the caravans that traveled along the Silk Route. Walnuts are thought to have been introduced to Europe by Alexander the Great.
Walnuts are rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid that reduces inflammation, benefiting the heart and brain. They are in season starting in September.
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
- 6 oz. raw walnuts
- 1-1/2 cups filtered water
- Pinch of sea salt
- ½ cup cold filtered water
- 2 Tablespoons rice flour + 1/3 cup filtered water
- 2/3 cup filtered water
- 2 Tablespoons palm sugar
- 1 Tablespoon molasses
- Goji berries as garnish
- Toasted sesame seeds as garnish
Optional tinctures:
- Wild Cherry Bark
- Linden
Instructions
- Soak the raw walnuts in 1-1/2 cups of water with a pinch of salt for 4 – 6 hours.
(This step helps minimize phytic acid present in all seeds and nuts and will ensure better digestibility.) - Drain the soaked walnuts when ready, and heat the oven to 325F.
- Place the walnuts on a parchment-lined baking sheet and toast them until they are dark golden brown and a warm, nutty aroma fills the air.
- Transfer the toasted nuts to a food processor or blender and add in the ½ cup cold water. Blend until smooth.
- Transfer the blended walnut mixture into a pot and add 2/3 cup water.
- Mix the rice flour and 1/3 cup water to make a slurry. Set aside.
- Heat the mixture on medium until it begins to simmer, and whisk in the white flour slurry. Continue to simmer until it thickens. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon.
- Add in the sweeteners and stir until dissolved.
- If the walnut soup is too thick, add a bit more water until it reaches a consistency you like.
- Pour the hot soup into individual serving bowls and top with goji berries and sesame seeds.
Notes:
If you want to amplify this nutritious sweet soup's therapeutic properties, add a few drops of Wild Cherry Bark (good for the respiratory system) or Linden (soothing and anti-stress) tincture
The traditional Chinese version calls for “slab sugar” as the sweetener. It is a combination of cane sugar and molasses pressed into solid bars or slabs. You can find them at Asian grocery stores. Substituting with organic palm sugar and molasses is a healthier version.
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