Soups
Glehnia Two-Winter Lean Pork Soup
traditionally used to nourish lung yin, moisten dryness, and support respiratory comfort
Why people make this soup
Bronchial asthma tends to flare up in autumn and winter, but the underlying sensitivity of the lungs is something people carry year-round. Traditional Cantonese food therapy suggests that building lung resilience during the calmer summer months is a sensible approach — the idea being that prevention is far easier than treatment. This mild, pleasant soup is Bro Niu’s recommendation for that purpose. It is not a treatment for an asthma attack; rather, it is an everyday soup that the whole family can enjoy, with ingredients that are gentle and nourishing.
The name “two-winter” (er dong) refers to the pairing of two yin-nourishing herbs whose Chinese names both contain the character “winter” (冬): mai dong (ophiopogon) and dong gua (winter melon).
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for the whole family as a summer soup, including children and older adults.
- Particularly relevant for people with bronchial sensitivity, a persistent dry cough, or a tendency toward dry mouth and throat.
- This is a cooling and moistening soup — not recommended during an active cold with chills, body aches, or when the illness has just begun with external symptoms.
- Not a replacement for prescribed asthma medication; please continue any existing medical treatment.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Glehnia root (sha shen): A mild, slightly sweet root traditionally used in Chinese herbal cooking to moisten the lungs and soothe a dry throat. It pairs well with meat-based soups and has a clean, pleasant flavour.
- Ophiopogon root (mai dong): A widely used yin-nourishing herb in Chinese food therapy, associated with moistening the lungs, calming mild irritability, and easing dryness-related thirst.
- Winter melon (dong gua): Mildly cooling, high in water content, and traditionally valued for its ability to clear summer heat. Cooked with the skin on for added benefit.
- Sweet almonds (nan xing): The sweeter of the two common almond varieties used in Chinese cooking (as opposed to bitter northern almonds). Traditionally associated with moistening the lungs and nourishing the skin.
- Lean pork: Provides body and mild nourishment to what would otherwise be a purely herbal broth, making it a complete everyday meal soup.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Glehnia root (sha shen) | 38 g (1 oz) | Soaked and rinsed |
| Ophiopogon root (mai dong) | 38 g (1 oz) | Soaked and rinsed |
| Winter melon, skin on | 600 g | Washed and cut into chunks |
| Sweet almonds (nan xing) | 38 g (1 oz) | Rinsed |
| Lean pork | 300 g | Blanched briefly in boiling water |
Method
- Blanch the lean pork briefly in boiling water, then rinse. This removes impurities and keeps the broth clear.
- Wash and cut the winter melon into chunks, keeping the skin on.
- Soak and rinse the glehnia root, ophiopogon, and almonds.
- Place all ingredients in a pot with 8 bowls (about 2 litres) of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a medium-low simmer and cook for 1 hour.
- Season lightly with salt to taste before serving.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup suits the whole household and makes a very practical everyday pot during the summer months. Beyond those with bronchial sensitivity, it is also well suited to anyone experiencing a dry cough, dry mouth and throat, or a general feeling of restless heat. It is a mildly cooling soup, so it is best enjoyed warm — particularly for people who tend to feel cold easily. Keep the winter melon skin on; in traditional food therapy it adds its own contribution to the soup.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (tina): My father smokes and has asthma. He has not been able to quit. Is there a soup or food therapy that might help ease his symptoms? Bro Niu: You can try cooking 20 ginkgo nut kernels (with the inner embryo removed), 38 g walnut meat, 38 g sweet and bitter almonds together, 2 dried tangerine peel pieces, and a piece of frozen crocodile meat (or 75 g dried crocodile meat) with lean pork in a soup. Simmer for 2 hours. The whole family can drink it. Ginkgo and walnut in particular are worth including in regular meals for someone in his situation.
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Q (Wang Tai): I have bronchial asthma with episodes of breathlessness and a feeling of insufficient lung qi. Is there a soup to reduce flare-ups? Bro Niu: Try cooking 15 ginkgo kernels (embryo removed), 38 g walnut meat, 38 g sweet and bitter almonds, and 5 red dates with quail or partridge in a soup for 2 hours. Drink the broth and eat some of the ginkgo and walnut. Aim for about 3 times per week — it is traditionally used to strengthen lung qi over time.
Published August 2, 2013 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
