Soups
Mung Bean and Lily Bulb Soup
Traditionally clears summer heat and calms the mind
Why people make this soup
On a scorching day, Bro Niu reminds everyone to stay hydrated and avoid heatstroke. This mung bean and lily bulb soup is traditionally taken to clear summer heat, drain damp and calm the mind. It suits people who have been overheated and feel feverish and restless, with headache, dizziness, a flushed face, heavy breathing, thirst and a lot of sweating.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for those who have been overheated and feel restless and feverish in hot weather
- People with a cold, weak constitution should take it sparingly, as it is cooling
- For a savory version, add a piece of lean pork
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Mung beans (lü dou): Traditionally taken to clear summer heat and drain damp.
- Fresh lily bulbs (bai he): Traditionally associated with calming the heart and easing restlessness.
- Dried tangerine peel (chen pi): Adds fragrance and is traditionally regarded as supporting the stomach.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mung beans | ~113 g | Soaked and rinsed |
| Fresh lily bulbs | 3 | Washed |
| Dried tangerine peel | 1/2 piece | |
| Rock sugar | to taste |
Method
- Soak and rinse the mung beans; wash the fresh lily bulbs.
- First boil the mung beans in 8 bowls of water for about 1 hour, reducing to 4–5 bowls.
- Add the rock sugar and lily bulbs, and cook until the sugar dissolves. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup clears heat and relieves summer heat, ideal for those who have been overheated. You can also add a piece of lean pork to turn it into a savory, cooling everyday soup.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Da Tian): Can I cook mung beans, barley, tangerine peel and lily bulb all together? Is it very cooling? Bro Niu: Yes, you can cook them together — it is a cooling dessert soup, so those with a cold, weak constitution should eat it sparingly.
- Q (Ba Mei): Is this dessert soup cooling? Why does my mum use chou cao (rue) instead of lily bulb — is the effect similar? Bro Niu: Rue-and-mung-bean dessert soup is a summer favorite, mainly to help prevent summer sores and heat rash. With lily bulb the flavor is nicer and it has a calming, restlessness-easing quality.
Published July 1, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
