Soups
Soybean Sprout, Carrot & Dried Oyster Soup
Traditionally used to nourish yin, clear heat and ease swollen, tender gums
Why people make this soup
Bro Niu has always taken tooth care seriously — a yearly cleaning, no fuss. But swollen, tender gums can creep up on anyone, whether from poor oral hygiene, not enough sleep, or one too many spicy, crunchy snacks inflaming the gums. For that puffy, sore feeling, Bro Niu suggests gargling often with strong salt water and turning to a cooling food-therapy soup to calm the heat. This clear, savoury pot is traditionally enjoyed to nourish yin, settle the heat, and ease swollen gums.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits people with swollen, tender gums from heat, late nights or spicy-crunchy foods.
- Tasty enough for the whole family as a cooling soup.
- Tooth pain or persistent gum problems should always be checked by a dentist — soup is supportive only.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Soybean sprouts (da dou ya cai): Traditionally used to clear heat and ease inflamed, swollen gums.
- Carrot (gan sun): Sweet and nourishing, balancing the broth.
- Aged tangerine peel (chen pi): Traditionally used to support digestion and add fragrance.
- Dried oysters (hao chi): Traditionally valued to nourish yin and enrich the savoury depth of the soup.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Soybean sprouts (da dou ya cai) | ~300 g | Trim roots, rinse |
| Carrots (gan sun) | 2 | Peel, cut into chunks |
| Aged tangerine peel (chen pi) | 1 piece | Soak till soft |
| Dried golden oysters (jin hao) | 6 | Soak till soft |
Method
- Trim the roots from the soybean sprouts and rinse; peel the carrots and cut into chunks.
- Soak the aged tangerine peel and dried oysters until soft.
- Put everything in a pot with 7 bowls of water and simmer for 1 hour, reducing to 4 bowls. Eat the soup with the ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
If the swollen gums come from too much spicy food and excess stomach heat, you can add two blocks of soup tofu to the pot.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Iili): My daughter (with G6PD deficiency) has gums that keep getting red and swollen, on and off, though the dentist and X-rays show nothing. A cleaning helped a little, but it’s flaring again. Any soup or tea? Bro Niu: Children easily build up heart-stomach heat, especially after crunchy, tasty snacks, which can swell the gums. First, cut back on spicy, fried and grilled foods; gargle with warm salt water. You can also simmer ~300 g soybean sprouts, 2 blocks of soup tofu and 2 qian snow fungus with lean pork for a full hour; the whole family can drink it, 3 servings, to see if it helps. After that, 1–2 servings a week.
- Q (reader): Can this soup be drunk during the period (late stage)? Bro Niu: Yes, this soup can be drunk in the later stage of the period.
- Q (Sally): My eye doctor says my lens is degenerating — how can I keep it from worsening? Bro Niu: You can simmer 4 qian cordyceps flower (jin chan hua), 3 qian shrub-cherry kernel (rui ren rou), 3 qian goji and 1 carrot with pork liver and lean pork, 2 servings a week, simmered 1 hour; the whole family can drink it, traditionally good for any decline in vision.
Published June 12, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
