Soups
Sapodilla, Burdock & Carrot Lean Pork Soup
Traditionally nourishes the lungs and complexion and supports healthy aging
Why people make this soup
At a fruit stall I spotted something that looked a bit like a kiwi — the seller called it “ren shen guo,” but it was actually sapodilla (ren xin guo). Ripe, it is wonderfully sweet, somewhere between honeydew melon and a soft persimmon. Sapodilla is rich in vitamin C and trace minerals, and in food tradition it is paired with burdock, carrot, figs and almonds to make a soup people love for moistening the lungs, brightening the complexion and supporting graceful aging.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Adults wanting a nourishing, complexion-friendly soup; it also suits people watching blood sugar and blood pressure.
- Pregnant women should avoid this soup — unripe sapodilla carries mild toxicity, so it is best not eaten during pregnancy.
- Always use sapodilla that is soft and fully ripe; firm fruit is astringent and sticks to the teeth.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Sapodilla (ren xin guo): Rich in vitamin C and trace minerals; traditionally associated with nourishing the body and supporting healthy aging.
- Burdock root (niu bang): A classic root long valued for supporting overall vitality.
- Carrot (gan sun) & figs (wu hua guo): Add natural sweetness and nourishing body to the broth.
- Almonds (xing ren): Traditionally associated with moistening the lungs.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sapodilla (ren xin guo) | 2 | Peeled, cut; must be soft-ripe |
| Carrot | 1 | Peeled, cut |
| Dried burdock (niu bang) | ~38 g | Or ~113 g fresh |
| Almonds (xing ren) | ~38 g | |
| Dried figs | 3–4 | |
| Lean pork | ~225 g | Sliced, blanched |
| Water | 8 bowls | Reduced to 4 |
Method
- Slice the lean pork and blanch it; peel and cut the sapodilla and carrot into chunks.
- Put all ingredients into a pot with 8 bowls of water.
- Simmer about 1.5 hours until reduced to 4 bowls. Eat the soup with the solids.
Bro Niu’s tips
Always press the sapodilla first — only use it when it gives and is fully ripe, or it will be sour, astringent and tooth-sticking. This soup also suits people with diabetes and high blood pressure. If sapodilla is hard to find, you can replace it with about 15 g of goji berries (gou qi zi), which are also associated with supporting healthy aging.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Sui Yi): If I can’t buy sapodilla, what can I use instead? Bro Niu: Skip the sapodilla and use about 15 g of goji berries instead — they too are associated with slowing aging.
- Q (A Bao): If I’m just over a month pregnant, can I drink this sapodilla soup? Bro Niu: Sapodilla is not an everyday fruit, and raw sapodilla has mild toxicity, so during pregnancy it’s best not to eat it.
- Q (Irene Ho): I have high blood pressure but want to keep my skin youthful — what soup can I drink? Sapodilla is rare; what common ingredient works? Bro Niu: A vegetarian borscht is good for that and very suitable for high blood pressure — use the borscht ingredients with spinach in place of meat, and be sure to add a beetroot. Replace sapodilla with two apples and it’s even better.
Published April 26, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
