Soybean Sprout, Tomato and Lean Pork Soup

Why people make this soup

Hong Kong’s warm, humid climate means skin warts are not uncommon — the virus that causes them spreads more easily when skin immunity is low, especially in older adults. Soybean sprouts are easy to overlook as an everyday vegetable, but they are nutritionally rich: packed with B vitamins (including B2), minerals, and plant compounds associated in traditional food therapy with anti-fatigue effects, clearing heat, reducing gum bleeding, supporting eye clarity, and lowering cholesterol. The B2 content is particularly relevant here — it has been traditionally linked to keeping skin healthy and helping to slow the spread of certain skin viruses.

When paired with tomatoes — rich in lycopene, associated with slowing pigmentation and age-related cellular changes — this becomes a genuinely useful everyday soup. It is light, slightly tangy, and deeply appetising. Regular consumption is traditionally said to support overall skin tone and clarity.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for most adults and children — a mild, nourishing everyday soup
• Particularly useful for those with skin warts, age spots, freckles, high cholesterol, or tired, red eyes
• Vegetarians can omit the pork and substitute cashew nuts, which also provide good protein and nourishment

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Soybean sprouts (huang dou ya): Rich in vitamins B2, C, and minerals; traditionally associated with fighting fatigue, clearing heat, brightening the eyes, and supporting skin immunity. Importantly — buy sprouts with their roots attached; rootless sprouts may have been treated with herbicide.
• Tomatoes (fan qie): Rich in lycopene and antioxidants; associated with slowing pigmentation, supporting eye health (reducing the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration), and traditionally considered beneficial for prostate health in men and cervical health in women.
• Fresh ginger (sheng jiang): A warming ingredient that balances the slight coolness of the sprouts and adds a gentle depth to the broth.
• Lean pork: Provides protein, iron, and body to the soup.

Ingredients (4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Soybean sprouts	~300 g	Buy sprouts with roots attached — rootless may have been treated with herbicide
Tomatoes	2–3 medium	Peel and cut into chunks; dip briefly in hot water to loosen the skin
Fresh ginger	3 slices	—
Lean pork	~300 g	Slice and blanch briefly to remove scum
Water	8 bowls (~1.2 L)	—

Method

1. Remove the roots from the soybean sprouts (the tips, not the whole root). Rinse well.
2. Peel the tomatoes: score a cross on the bottom, dip briefly in boiling water, then peel away the skin. Cut into chunks.
3. Slice the lean pork, blanch briefly in boiling water to remove the scum, then drain and rinse.
4. Combine all ingredients in a pot with 8 bowls of water. Bring to a boil over high heat.
5. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cook for 1.5 hours until the soup reduces to about 4 bowls.
6. Serve hot; eat the soup and all the solid ingredients together.

Bro Niu’s tips

This soup is refreshing and appetite-stimulating — a gentle, pleasant everyday preparation. If you want to use it to target existing warts, Bro Niu suggests a topical approach as well: mix coix seed powder (yi ren fen) with a little water and honey into a thin paste, apply to the affected area once daily, leave for 15 minutes, then rinse off. Patience is needed, but it can help. For faster results, liquid nitrogen treatment at a dermatology clinic is the most effective option. Important note: always buy soybean sprouts with their roots on — rootless sprouts are sometimes treated with herbicide to prevent root growth, and that substance is potentially carcinogenic.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Joey): Can I replace the lean pork with cashew nuts for a vegetarian version? And if warts have already appeared, how do you get rid of them? Bro Niu: Cashew nuts work well as a substitute — the nutrition is just as good. For existing warts, try applying a thin paste of coix seed flour mixed with water and a little honey once daily, leaving it on for 15 minutes before rinsing off. It takes patience. If you want quicker results, liquid nitrogen cryotherapy at a dermatologist’s is the most reliable approach.

• Q (Xiao P): Can this soup be simmered for just 15–20 minutes instead of 1.5 hours? Bro Niu: If you plan to eat the ingredients, simmering for 15–20 minutes is enough — the sprouts will still be tender and nutritious. If you mostly want the broth, simmer for a full hour to draw out more flavour from the ingredients.

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Published November 6, 2021 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.