Lanzhou milky dessert egg drop with fermented rice and nuts, whirlpool method

Toast about ten peanuts and an equal number of pumpkin seeds over a medium-low flame.

Once they are halfway toasted, about three minutes in, add the sesame seeds and toast everything together another three minutes or so.

Peel the peanuts and set the nuts aside.

Bring the milk to a simmer and add the sugar and the baking soda.

Add the dried apricots, raisins and goji berries and stir them into the hot milk to soften.

Add the LaoZao fermented rice and simmer everything together about two minutes.

Whirlpool method: get the soup swirling rapidly and aim the beaten egg at the stream of the whirlpool, against the current, rather than at the vortex; this gives longer chunkier strands.

Stir gently and once the egg is floating it is done; put the toasted nuts in the serving bowl and pour the soup over.