Soups
Green Radish, Water Chestnut, Corn and Fig Soup
Traditionally supports detox, clear skin and a lighter feel
Why people make this soup
On a hot day, when a rich, fatty soup feels like too much, Bro Niu keeps it light. Green radish, water chestnut and corn make a clean, juicy pot that is traditionally said to help the body clear waste, keep both kinds of “passage” moving, and moisten through dry weather — while leaving you feeling lighter rather than heavier.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- The whole family on hot days who want a light, refreshing soup
- People mindful of the “three highs” (blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids), for whom it is traditionally considered suitable
- Drunk regularly, it is associated in folk use with a slimming effect
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Green radish (qing luo bo): traditionally associated with clearing heat from the lungs and stomach; folk wisdom holds it especially good for cooks who work over gas, as it is said to help offset gas fumes
- Water chestnut (ma ti): sweet and juicy, nicknamed the “underground snow pear,” traditionally used to moisten the lungs, ease phlegm and generate fluids
- Corn (su mi): traditionally associated with clearing heat, supporting urination and easing puffiness
- Dried figs (wu hua guo): traditionally linked with soothing inflammation, supporting digestion and easing the bowels
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Green radish | 1 | Peeled, cut into chunks |
| Water chestnuts | 8 | Peeled, washed |
| Corn | 1 cob | Husked, cut into pieces |
| Dried figs | 4 | Rinsed |
| Pork ribs | ~300 g | Blanched |
Method
- Peel the green radish and cut into chunks. Peel and wash the water chestnuts. Husk the corn and cut into pieces. Rinse the figs.
- Blanch the pork ribs.
- Add all ingredients to 8 bowls of water and simmer for about 1.5 hours, reducing to 4 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
Clean and tasty, fine for the whole family. Drunk regularly it is traditionally associated with a slimming effect and is considered very suitable for people watching the “three highs.”
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Wai): Around my period I feel awful — dizzy, with dry, tired eyes. A TCM practitioner said liver blood and qi are low with deficiency heat, plus spleen dampness. Any food therapy to ease things during the period? Bro Niu: You can simmer sliced goji berries, longan flesh and red dates (~11 g each) with 3 slices of ginger in 4 bowls of water down to 1 bowl, or brew a roselle-goji tea — both are nourishing. Most important: relax, cut back on caffeine (coffee, strong tea), go easy on spicy and fried foods, and avoid iced drinks before and during your period.
Published June 25, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
