Soups
Five-Red Lean Pork Soup (Wu Hong Shou Rou Tang)
traditionally used to nourish blood, reduce water retention, support healthy skin tone, and provide antioxidant benefits
Why people make this soup
There is something satisfying about the “five reds” concept — every ingredient in this soup shares a warm, red colour, and each one has its own traditional rationale. Beetroot is the star: it has become well known in both East and West for its potential cardiovascular and digestive benefits, and its earthy sweetness gives the soup its backbone. Combined with adzuki beans to ease waterlogged puffiness, peanuts in their red skins for a blood-nourishing effect, antioxidant-rich tomato, and the classic warming red date, this is a soup that tastes genuinely good while checking a lot of wellness boxes. Bro Niu particularly recommends it for anyone with anaemia or who tends to carry excess water weight.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for most adults, including those with mild anaemia, puffiness, or skin that looks dull or tired.
- Particularly beneficial for women after childbirth (postpartum blood deficiency) due to the high folate content in beetroot, which the body needs to produce red blood cells.
- Also traditionally considered supportive for goitre (thyroid swelling).
- Those watching blood sugar should enjoy in moderation as beetroot and red dates contain natural sugars.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Beetroot (hong cai tou): Rich in folate — the nutrient the body uses to build red blood cells. Also associated with supporting the heart and intestines, and considered a good ingredient for weight management.
- Adzuki beans (hong dou / chi xiao dou): Traditionally used to drain excess dampness and ease water retention (oedema). Also associated with supporting heart health.
- Red-skin peanuts (hong yi hua sheng): The red papery skin around the peanut is considered to have blood-nourishing properties distinct from the peanut itself. Used in traditional formulas for blood deficiency.
- Tomato: Rich in lycopene and other antioxidants; adds brightness and a mild acidity that balances the earthiness of the beetroot.
- Red dates (hong zao): Warm and sweet, a staple of Chinese food therapy for supporting qi and blood, calming the mind, and adding gentle sweetness to soups.
- Lean pork: Provides savoury depth and protein without excess fat.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beetroot | 1 medium bulb | With stalks and leaves; peel and slice |
| Adzuki beans (hong dou) | ~37 g (1 liang) | Soak and rinse |
| Red-skin peanuts | ~37 g (1 liang) | Soak and rinse |
| Tomatoes | 2 medium | Peeled, cut into chunks |
| Red dates (hong zao) | 6 pieces | Pitted |
| Lean pork | ~187 g (half jin) | Thick slices, blanched |
| Water | 8 bowls | ~1.6 litres |
Method
- Rinse the beetroot including its stalks and leaves; peel and slice into rounds or wedges.
- Soak and rinse the adzuki beans and red-skin peanuts.
- Peel the tomatoes (score the base, briefly dip in boiling water, peel); cut into chunks.
- Pit the red dates.
- Blanch the lean pork in boiling water to remove impurities; drain.
- Place all ingredients in a pot with 8 bowls of water.
- Bring to the boil, then simmer for 90 minutes until the liquid reduces to about 4 bowls.
- Serve the soup and solids together.
Bro Niu’s tips
Beetroot is unusually high in folate — a nutrient that the body relies on for making red blood cells. Women who have just given birth and are experiencing blood deficiency will find this soup particularly nourishing. It also has some traditional use for supporting thyroid health. The soup will turn a beautiful deep ruby colour; don’t be startled if it tints your urine slightly pink — this is harmless.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Jessica): My son has had two surgeries on his hand and is about to have a third. He also has acne all over his face and gets dizzy when he stands up quickly. What should he eat? Bro Niu: You can use fresh/dried rehmannia root (sheng di huang) 15 g, mung beans (lv dou) and Job’s tears (yi mi) 37 g each, red or southern jujube dates 5 pieces, simmered with one squab (pigeon). Take 2–3 times per week. This helps clear acne without being too cooling or too warming, and supports general recovery.
Published July 16, 2022 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
