Lunar New Year Day Seven: Another Bowl of Simply Simmered Lamb Soup
On the final day of the holidays, treat yourself to one more light and refreshing dish. The Herigeobi herders’ gently simmered free-range mutton is simple to prepare, yet anyone who has tasted mutton from their year-round migratory flocks invariably praises it and cannot put down their chopsticks.
Across the grasslands of Herigeobi community in East Ujimqin Banner, Inner Mongolia, the Duran family of the Herigeobi cooperative continues to raise traditional Ujimqin sheep—an unimproved, native breed that embodies authentic free-range, migratory grazing.
Born on natural pastures and left to graze freely, these sheep are never force-fed, given antibiotics, or injected with water. Instead, they follow the seasonal grasses year-round. As the flocks traverse different grazing grounds, the diverse vegetation imparts a range of trace minerals. It is precisely this lifestyle that has earned Ujimqin mutton its reputation for a mild, non-gamey flavour, evenly distributed fat, and tender, juicy flesh. One bite of the lamb reveals the fresh, fragrant character of the grasslands.
Compared to confinement fencing, single-pasture grazing, or grain supplementation, year-round migratory grazing safeguards the grassland ecosystem while preserving the mutton’s natural, unadulterated flavour. Indeed, grassland mutton raised with such a commitment to free-range living is becoming ever more scarce.
Pastures are far more than grazing land; they sustain the ecological balance, the local economy, and the livelihoods of herders. As 2026 marks the International Year of Rangelands and Ranchers, Foodthink will continue to share the stories of local pastoral communities and their people. We hope you will take the opportunity to learn more about the herders’ way of life, support locally produced pastoral goods, and back the grasslands and herder livelihoods through tangible action.
Ingredients:
Traditional herder style: Herigeobi mutton, salt, and nothing else.
Modern home adaptation: Feel free to add daikon radish, carrots, ginger, wood ear mushrooms, and ground pepper to suit your taste.
Method:
Simmer in water with salt until the meat becomes tender.
Notes:
The herders’ free-range sheep roam the grasslands throughout the year, grazing on dozens of different plants and grasses. This natural diet ensures the meat is entirely free of gamey notes. The cooking method is intentionally simple, letting the quality and natural fragrance of the mutton take centre stage.
For more stories from the Herigeobi herders, click here 👉🏻On the Ujimqin grasslands, experience authentic herder lifeTo find out more or purchase, please follow @Beijing Organic Farmers’ Market
Time to eat! This New Year, savour some delicious food with a clear provenance.
Foodthink has teamed up with farmers from the Beijing Organic Farmers’ Market to share a ‘New Year recipe collection’ featuring their very own produce.
You won’t find recipes measured down to the gram or the minute here, nor any flashy, complicated techniques.
Instead, there’s a quiet confidence and deep trust in the ingredients, alongside simple, heartfelt advice—the sort you’d give your own family.
When produce is grown with such care, there’s no need to overthink it. A straightforward, relaxed approach, paired with just the right temperature, is all it takes.
Behind every dish in this collection stands a real person—
the farmers know exactly what makes their ingredients so special, and they know the best way to honour that quality.
When you can name the block of tofu, trace the background of the chicken, and trust a radish enough to eat it without peeling—great flavour just comes naturally.
From the second to the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, six farmers share one signature dish each day.
Day Two of the Lunar New Year: Steamed Mountain-Roaming Pork
Day Three of the Lunar New Year: Super Stir-Fried Chicken
Day Four of the Lunar New Year: Braised Tofu in Savoury Sauce
Day Five of the Lunar New Year: Radish Sashimi
Day Six of the Lunar New Year: Versatile Red Sour Soup
Tended with care, prepared without fuss, enjoyed with peace of mind.
