Tasting Huaiyang Cuisine along the Canal in Huai'an: Yam and Duck Soup

Yam and Duck Soup, a famous dish in Huai'an, east China's Jiangsu province, is seen as an indispensable part of the whole feast of Huaiyang cuisine.

Yam and Duck Soup [Photo by Zhu Feng]

Apart from the main ingredients, yams and duck meat, a bowl of Yam and Duck Soup also includes diced ham, diced cake, dried shrimps, and shredded green garlic. To cook Yam and Duck Soup, the first step is to steam the yams and peel them, and then cut them with the duck meat. When all the ingredients are prepared, put them into the pot and cook them until the water boils. Finally, top the soup with a little lard, sesame oil, pepper and garlic shreds. The soft and glutinous yams and crispy duck meat in the hot soup makes a mouth-watering dish.

The main ingredients for Yam and Duck Soup [Photo by Zhufeng]

According to the theories of herbal medicine, Yam and Duck Soup can tonify the body, especially the stomach. People in Huai'an love eating it in winter as it can warm their bodies up and also good for health.