Soups
Vietnamese Mint, Scallion and Egg-Drop Soup
Traditionally used to warm the body and release an early wind-cold chill
Why people make this soup
When the weather flips cold again after a warm spell — especially in the chilly mornings and evenings — it is easy to catch a wind-cold. Bro Niu’s point is timing: if you act at the very first chill with a warming, aromatic soup, you can often shorten the misery. This bowl is traditionally used to release the surface, scatter cold and settle an unhappy stomach, and is associated with easing the shivery-with-fever, stuffy nose, runny nose, headache and chest tightness of an early wind-cold.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People at the very first sign of a wind-cold chill, who want a quick warming sip.
- Do not over-boil it, and drink it hot in one sitting, then bundle up to raise a light sweat.
- Pregnant readers: skip the Vietnamese mint and use ~19 g (5 qian) perilla leaf (zi su ye) instead, which is traditionally considered settling for pregnancy.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Vietnamese mint (xiang hua cai): the aromatic surface-releasing element; can be replaced by fresh perilla leaf.
- Scallion whites (cong bai): classically used to disperse cold and open the surface.
- Coriander (yan sui): traditionally aromatic and surface-releasing, helping move out an external chill.
- Ginger (sheng jiang): the warming base, traditionally used to scatter cold and settle the stomach.
Ingredients (2 bowls, 1 serving)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnamese mint (xiang hua cai) | ~75 g (2 liang) | Rinsed, cut into segments |
| Scallion whites (cong bai) | 4 stalks | Rinsed, cut into segments |
| Coriander (yan sui) | 2 sprigs | Rinsed, cut into segments |
| Fresh ginger | 4 slices | |
| Eggs | 1–2 | Beaten |
Method
- Rinse the Vietnamese mint, scallion whites and coriander and cut into segments; beat the eggs.
- Bring 2 bowls of water to a boil, add the ginger slices.
- Once boiling, add the rest of the ingredients and boil hard for 5 minutes. Done.
Bro Niu’s tips
Do not simmer this for long. Drink it hot in one go, then put on extra layers or get under a blanket to raise a light sweat — once you sweat a little, the chill usually clears more easily.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (man): Can I drink this in early pregnancy? Is it better to leave out the Vietnamese mint and use fresh perilla leaf? Bro Niu: You can use ~19 g (5 qian) perilla leaf instead — it has a pregnancy-settling effect.
- Q (Ellen): Can I use another vegetable instead of Vietnamese mint? Bro Niu: If you don’t have Vietnamese mint, fresh perilla leaf works.
Published February 14, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
