Page:The Chinese cook book.djvu/45

 NOTE: In every recipe given in this book, the quantity stated is sufficient for six persons.

The substance of which this soup is made is found in bird nests. It is the saliva of the swallows of northern China. It looks somewhat like spinach. The best quality is pure white. The other quality is a little brown and contains some impurities of straw and feathers, which must be removed by shaking in water.

(a) Soak in cold water for one hour 2 cups of bird-nest. Then wash gently.

(b) Cook in water for 1 hour, with a piece of ginger.

(c) Strain off and put into 6 pints of primary soup. Let simmer for ½ hour.

Serve in bowls or soup-plates, and use 6