Soups
Pumpkin and Frog Soup
Traditionally used to supplement qi and yin for those managing diabetes
Why people make this soup
Pumpkin has long been regarded as a friendly food in diabetes care — it contains cobalt, traditionally said to support the body’s insulin function, which is why it’s so often suggested for people managing diabetes. Bro Niu’s pumpkin and frog soup is traditionally associated with supplementing qi and yin and supporting the body’s fluids. It’s especially comforting for those who, after a long illness, feel weak and depleted, with a dry mouth and throat or spontaneous and night sweats.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits people managing diabetes who feel run-down, with a dry mouth and throat or night sweats; also traditionally said to suit those recovering from lung inflammation.
- Not suitable for those with damp-stagnation signs — a thick, greasy tongue coating, or bloating and fullness in the stomach.
- This is supportive only; keep up your prescribed diabetes care and see your doctor.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Pumpkin (nan gua): contains cobalt; traditionally favored in diabetes care and said to support insulin function.
- Frog (tian ji): traditionally used to resolve phlegm and drain pus, supporting recovery; the soup is associated with supplementing qi and yin.
- Garlic and ginger: warming aromatics that round out and balance the soup.
Ingredients (about 4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pumpkin (nan gua) | 1 jin (~600 g) | Peeled, deseeded, chunked |
| Frog (tian ji) | 1 jin (~600 g) | Cleaned, blanched |
| Garlic cloves (da suan) | 3 | Peeled |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices |
Method
- Peel and deseed the pumpkin and cut into chunks. Peel the garlic.
- Clean the frog and blanch it briefly in boiling water.
- Put all the ingredients into a pot with 6 bowls of water.
- Simmer about 1 hour until reduced to about 4 bowls, then serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is also suitable for people recovering from pneumonia or a lung abscess, because frog is traditionally regarded as helping to resolve phlegm and drain pus. Remember that not everyone with diabetes should eat pumpkin — if there’s damp stagnation (thick greasy tongue coating, bloating, fullness), give it a miss.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Lin): I’ve heard that in some cases people with diabetes shouldn’t eat pumpkin — do you know why? And can I still drink red-date water, mulberry-mistletoe (sang ji sheng) tea, and so on? Bro Niu: Anyone with damp stagnation and qi stagnation, or a thick, greasy tongue coating, should not eat pumpkin; people with diabetes who have dampness in the spleen and stomach, or bloating and fullness, should also avoid it. Mulberry-mistletoe and red-date tea is fine — use fewer red dates, skip the rock sugar, and use a sugar substitute if needed.
Published March 18, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
