Soups
Green and Red Radish Beef Shank Soup
traditionally used to support spleen function and promote healthy urination
Why people make this soup
Green-and-red radish soup is one of the most beloved weeknight soups in Cantonese households. The two radishes bring complementary flavours — the green radish adds a gentle peppery edge while the carrot lends natural sweetness — and together with tender beef shank, the broth turns wonderfully clear and fragrant. In traditional food therapy, this combination is said to support the spleen and stomach, ease fluid metabolism, and help the body clear mild internal heat. Families who cook with gas burners sometimes mention that radish juice has long been used as a home remedy after accidental gas exposure, although nothing replaces calling emergency services in a genuine emergency.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits most adults and older children, particularly those who feel heavy or bloated, have sluggish digestion, or experience mild urinary discomfort
- Those currently taking ginseng (ren shen) or other tonifying qi herbs should avoid radish on the same day, as radish is traditionally considered to counteract the effect of these herbs
- Suitable for cancer patients in stable condition, according to Bro Niu’s community replies
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Carrot (hong luo bo): In traditional practice, carrot is associated with supporting the middle burner, easing digestion, and mildly promoting urination
- Green radish (qing luo bo): Traditionally considered cooling in nature; associated with clearing heat, generating fluids, resolving phlegm, and supporting the urinary system
- Beef shank (niu zhan): A protein-rich cut regarded in Chinese food therapy as nourishing to the spleen and stomach, tonifying qi and blood, and strengthening the sinews
- Fresh ginger (sheng jiang): Adds warmth, balances the cool nature of the radishes, and supports digestion
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Green radish | 1 medium (~300 g) | Peel and cut into thick chunks |
| Carrot | 1 medium (~200 g) | Peel and cut into thick chunks |
| Beef shank (niu zhan) | 1 piece (~400 g) | Blanch before use |
| Fresh ginger | 2 slices | |
| Water | About 8 bowls |
Method
- Peel the green radish and carrot; cut both into chunky pieces about 3–4 cm thick.
- Place the beef shank in a pot of cold water, bring to a boil, and blanch for 5 minutes to remove impurities. Rinse under cold water.
- Transfer all ingredients — the blanched beef shank, both radishes, ginger slices, and about 8 bowls of water — to a clay pot or heavy saucepan.
- Bring to a boil over high heat, skim any foam, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Simmer for about 2 hours until the beef is very tender and the broth is sweet.
- Serve with the broth and all the solids. The beef shank can be sliced at the table.
Bro Niu’s tips
- If using a whole beef shank (jin qian zhan / money tendon cut), Bro Niu prefers to cook it whole, then slice it after the soup is ready.
- This soup is also comforting for dry coughs, mouth sores, or mild difficulty urinating — it has a moist, cooling quality.
- Do not drink radish soup on the same day you are taking ginseng, Korean red ginseng, or similar tonifying herbs. White radish and green radish both belong to the same botanical family and are considered to neutralise the tonic effect. Carrot is considered a different species, so small amounts are generally fine.
- A reader noted that you can add salted duck kidney (chen ya shen) together with the radishes for extra flavour — Bro Niu agrees this makes a wonderful and nourishing variation.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Candy): After blanching the beef shank, do you cook it whole or cut it first? Bro Niu: I prefer to cook the money-tendon cut whole, then slice it after the soup is done.
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Q (reader — momo): I have recurring nephritis with blood in urine. I have been drinking sugar cane and imperata root water. Can I also drink this soup? Bro Niu: If kidney inflammation is flaring up, please see a doctor and keep up with medical treatment. During an acute episode, choose lean pork instead of beef shank to keep the soup lighter. The imperata root water is helpful and you can have it daily — but do buy and cook the ingredients yourself rather than relying on packaged ready-made drinks.
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Q (Daisy): I have difficulty urinating and frequent urgency. Is there a food-therapy remedy? Bro Niu: You could try simmering red adzuki beans (chi xiao dou, 2 liang), coix seed (yi mi, 1 liang), winter melon (dong gua, 8 oz), and honey dates (mi zao, 2 pieces) in 7 bowls of water down to 3 bowls, and drink it in three portions throughout the day — this is traditionally associated with easing urinary flow.
Published March 6, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
