Beetroot, Tomato, Carrot, and Date Vegetable Soup

Why people make this soup

Dark circles under the eyes are not always a sign of illness. Sleep deprivation is the most obvious cause — but emotional stress, anxiety, and even mild depression can also contribute, possibly by slowing down venous blood flow around the delicate eye area. When blood moves sluggishly, carbon dioxide and metabolic waste build up in the capillaries, and the resulting oxygen deficiency under thin eye-area skin can create that familiar darkened appearance.

Bro Niu’s approach is to work from the inside out: eat more colourful fruits and vegetables, particularly those high in pectin — a natural gel-like fibre found in abundance in tomatoes, carrots, beetroot, and squash. Traditional food-therapy associates pectin with helping to clear accumulated waste and trace heavy metals from the bloodstream. With less congestion in the blood, circulation improves naturally — and the skin, including the under-eye area, tends to look cleaner and brighter. This soup is also fully plant-based and easy on the digestion, making it a comfortable choice to have regularly.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for everyone — adults, children, pregnant women, and the elderly
• Especially associated with benefit for those with dark circles related to stress, poor sleep, or sluggish circulation
• Dates in this recipe are coconut dates (ye zao / jujube-family dates) which are mild, non-heating, and notably gentle on blood sugar — traditionally suitable for people with diabetes as well
• The whole family can share this soup; Bro Niu suggests 2 times per week as a regular routine
• Beetroot gives the broth a deep red colour — this is normal and not a cause for concern

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Beetroot (hong cai tou): Rich in betalains (the red-purple pigments), nitrates, and natural fibre. Associated with supporting circulation and liver health. Its high pectin content contributes to the soup’s detoxifying properties.
• Tomatoes (fan qie): Rich in lycopene and vitamin C; in food-therapy, associated with clearing heat and brightening the skin.
• Carrot (hong luo bo): Rich in beta-carotene and pectin; associated with supporting eye health and skin clarity.
• Dates (ye zao / coconut dates): Though not related to the Chinese red date (hong zao), coconut dates offer similar blood-nourishing and complexion-brightening properties without significantly raising blood sugar — making them suitable for diabetics as well as pregnant women and children.

Ingredients (4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Beetroot	1 medium	Peeled, cut into chunks
Tomatoes	2 medium	Peeled, cut into chunks
Carrot	1 medium	Peeled, cut into chunks
Coconut dates	6 pieces	Pitted
Water	6–7 bowls (~1.3 litres)

Method

1. Peel and cut the beetroot, tomatoes, and carrot into rough chunks.
2. Remove pits from the dates.
3. Combine all ingredients with 6–7 bowls of water in a pot.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a steady simmer and cook for 1 hour until reduced to about 4 bowls.
5. Serve warm, eating the vegetables along with the broth for full benefit.

Bro Niu’s tips

Dark circles that are related to emotional tension and stress often improve when you work on the mental-emotional side as well — try to take a more open, positive perspective on daily challenges. Regular sleep and rest remain the foundation. This soup supports from within by helping to clear metabolic waste from the bloodstream. Eat the vegetables, not just the broth — the pectin and nutrients are concentrated in the cooked vegetables as much as in the liquid. Aim for 2 portions per week.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Anny): I have had dark circles for many years because of nasal allergies — I tend to rub my eyes when they itch, which causes pigmentation. What can help? Bro Niu: You can try a soup using pumpkin, tomatoes, and carrot — each in a moderate amount — with 2–3 field frogs (tian ji). Cook 2 times per week. The pectin in these vegetables, with field frog as a guiding ingredient that carries the pectin upward to the face, can help improve dark circles. Remember to actually eat some of the vegetables for it to work — drinking just the broth alone is not sufficient.

• Q (shum): Post-menopausal women tend to see cholesterol and blood lipids rise. Is there a food-therapy approach? Bro Niu: Try juicing Chinese celery (xi qin) together with apple every morning before breakfast — about one glass. This can support healthy blood lipids and cholesterol. Use American-grown celery when available, as the flavour is better. Continue for about two weeks and see if there is improvement. Those with cold hands and feet can add a small piece of ginger when juicing.

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Published May 10, 2020 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.