Soups
Adzuki Bean, Hyacinth Bean, Frog Leg and Winter Melon Soup
Traditionally clears summer heat and dispels damp
Why people make this soup
Bro Niu here. A lot of home cooks shy away from frog leg because of old worries about parasites — and it is true that restaurants used to cook frog just to the point of being barely done, which is not the safest way to eat it. But in a soup that simmers an hour and a half or more, that concern fades away. Most frog sold today is farm-raised, and it is rich in protein and minerals. After the heat of midsummer I picked up some frozen frog legs and thought to pair them with adzuki and hyacinth beans in a winter melon soup to ease the summer heat and damp.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People feeling the heat and stickiness of hot, humid weather
- It is mild and clear, fine for adults and children
- Traditionally considered well suited to growing teenagers and to men and women going through midlife changes
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Adzuki bean (chi xiao dou): Traditionally used to support healthy fluid balance and ease swelling.
- Hyacinth bean (bian dou): Traditionally associated with strengthening the spleen and dispelling summer damp.
- Winter melon (dong gua): Traditionally used to clear summer heat.
- Frog leg (tian ji tui): A lean source of protein and minerals.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adzuki beans | ~40 g | Soak and rinse |
| Hyacinth beans | ~40 g | Soak and rinse |
| Frozen frog legs | 3 pairs | Blanch |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | |
| Pork ribs | ~300 g | Blanch |
| Winter melon | ~600 g | Rinse with skin on, deseed |
Method
- Soak and rinse the adzuki and hyacinth beans. Blanch the pork ribs and frog legs.
- Rinse the winter melon, leaving the skin on, and remove the seeds.
- Put all the ingredients into 8 bowls of water and cook for about an hour and a half, reducing to 4 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is clear and naturally sweet, fine for young and old. It is traditionally regarded as a good fit for teenagers in their growing years and for adults in midlife.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Cola): Is this soup gentle? Can the whole family drink it? What about people with the “three highs” (high blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol)? Bro Niu: This soup is very mild — adults and children alike can have it, and people with the three highs can drink it too.
Published July 23, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
