Soups
Green Papaya, Black-Eyed Pea, Peanut and Bean-Curd Stick Soup
Traditionally supports milk supply and nourishment after childbirth
Why people make this soup
A vegetarian friend was worried she would not produce enough milk for her baby. Honestly, as long as a nursing mother eats a balanced, nourishing diet, breastfeeding usually goes fine. Green papaya is traditionally valued for gently encouraging milk flow, and when you simmer it with black-eyed peas, peanuts, shiitake and bean-curd sticks — all rich, nourishing foods with a little milk-supporting reputation of their own — you get a tasty pot that new mothers tend to love.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- New mothers who want a gentle, nourishing soup to support milk supply
- The whole family can enjoy it; it is mild and pleasant
- Not suitable during pregnancy — green papaya can cause mild uterine contraction
- Gout sufferers should swap the black-eyed peas for rice beans and leave out the shiitake and bean-curd sticks (add a few dried figs instead)
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Green papaya (qing mu gua): traditionally associated with encouraging milk flow; its sap is also said to gently stimulate the uterus.
- Black-eyed peas (mei dou) and peanuts (hua sheng): nourishing and traditionally credited with a mild milk-supporting effect.
- Shiitake (dong gu) and bean-curd sticks (zhi zhu): add body, flavour and nourishment.
- Ginger (sheng jiang): warms the pot and balances the cooler ingredients.
Ingredients (3 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Green papaya | 1 fruit | Peeled, seeds removed |
| Black-eyed peas | ~38 g | Rinsed and soaked |
| Peanuts | ~38 g | Rinsed and soaked |
| Dried shiitake | 6–8 | Rinsed and soaked |
| Bean-curd sticks | 2 | Rinsed and soaked |
| Ginger | 2 slices |
Method
- Peel the green papaya, remove the core and seeds. Rinse and soak the remaining ingredients.
- Place everything in a pot with 6 bowls of water.
- Simmer for about 2 hours until reduced to roughly 3 bowls.
- Drink the soup and eat the solids.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is delicious and the whole family can drink it. Besides supporting milk supply, it is traditionally associated with clearing heat, easing the bowels and nourishing the skin. As an everyday health soup, you can cook it with fresh fish or lean pork for extra flavour.
Community questions answered (selected)
-
Q (Wai): Can someone with gout drink this soup? Bro Niu: For gout, replace the black-eyed peas with rice beans, leave out the shiitake and bean-curd sticks, and add a few dried figs instead.
-
Q (Mimi): Is this suitable for every body type? Bro Niu: This soup is very mild and suits everyone — but not pregnant women, because green papaya can cause slight uterine contraction.
-
Q (reader): I gave birth about two weeks ago and am breastfeeding, but my milk is low and slow even after papaya soup. What can speed it up? Bro Niu: Some mothers are slow to produce milk on a first baby. Before feeding, apply a warm towel to the breast and gently massage in circles from the outside toward the areola. Papaya-and-fish soup, or a pig-trotter soup with dang gui, bei qi and tong cao, can also help. Avoid overly salty food, and avoid known milk-reducing foods such as malt, fermented black beans, dried tangerine peel, chives, Sichuan pepper, pig liver and squab.
Published August 4, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
