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Patriotic soup
Song dynasty's 'patriotic soup' (prepared in Fresno California) - 宋朝的“護國菜”(在加利福尼亞州弗雷斯諾市製備) (2).jpg
Homestyle version of the patriotic soup
Alternative names Protect the country dish
Type Soup
Place of origin China
Region or state Chaoshan
Main ingredients Edible leaf vegetable (amaranth, spinach, ipomoea aquatica, sweet potato leaves, chard or other leafy greens), Edible mushrooms (volvariella volvacea, shiitake, black wood ear, cloud ear fungus, white wood ear or other fungi), broth (vegetable, beef, chicken, pork, or other stocks), starch, salt, sesame oil
Patriotic soup
Patriotic soup
Traditional Chinese 護國菜
Simplified Chinese 护国菜
Hanyu Pinyin hùguó cài
Literal meaning Protect the country dish

Patriotic soup (simplified Chinese: 护国菜; traditional Chinese: 護國菜; pinyin: hùguó cài; literally "protect the country dish", Teochew :hu gog chai) is a vegetable soup originated by Teochew people. It was developed during the final year of China's Song dynasty as an improvisational dish.

History

According to the locals at the Guangdong Province, prior to the Battle of Yamen, Song's last emperor Zhao Bing and his regime's remnants sought shelter in a monastery at Chaozhou. The monastery's monks served an impromptu vegetarian soup made of leaf vegetable, edible mushrooms, and vegetable broth. The emperor loved the soup and named it "protect the country dish" (護國菜). A later generation named it in English "patriotic soup". After Zhao Bing died, the preparation of the soup became a way to honor the last Song emperor.

Preparation

The soup became a part of Teochew cuisine, and its recipe evolved over time. Although the Chinese since the Ming dynasty commonly use sweet potato leaves, other varieties include amaranth, spinach, ipomoea aquatica and other leafy greens; and alternative broths such as beef or chicken. Other ingredients are often added such as beaten eggs, shredded dry cured ham, tofu, cellophane noodles, etc. Guangdong Province's restaurants routinely decorate the soup in a taijitu diagram. However, the most authentic version of the soup typically is homemade and simply prepared just using leaf vegetable, edible mushrooms, and vegetable broth.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Sopa patriótica para niños

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