Soups
Tiger Milk Mushroom, Coconut, Walnut and Lily Bulb Soup
Traditionally taken to support the lungs and energy and to help recovery from lingering post-viral fatigue and cough
Why people make this soup
Even though the epidemic has eased, plenty of friends who were infected still carry some after-effects — body fatigue, trouble concentrating, a cough that comes and goes, or a chest that does not feel quite clear. That kind of recovery takes patience. This tiger milk mushroom, coconut, walnut and lily bulb soup is the one I like to recommend: it is traditionally taken to support the lungs and kidneys, replenish energy, support immunity and ease tiredness. Best of all, it is clear, naturally sweet and genuinely tasty.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits people in post-viral recovery with weak lung energy who tire easily or have a lingering cough, as well as long-term smokers; old and young can drink it, and it is gentle enough for infants.
- If you have a fever, wait until it passes before taking this nourishing soup. If a cough or breathlessness persists, please see a doctor.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Tiger milk mushroom (hu ru ling zhi): A prized medicinal fungus from Southeast Asia, traditionally used to calm coughing and wheezing and associated with soothing inflammation.
- Mini coconut (mi ni ye zi): Traditionally valued to moisten the lungs.
- Red dates, lily bulb, walnut, carrot (hong zao, bai he, he tao, hong luo bo): Traditionally used together to support the lungs, spleen and kidneys, building a gently strengthening soup.
- Dried tangerine peel (chen pi): Traditionally added to harmonise the soup and support digestion.
Ingredients (about 4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tiger milk mushroom (hu ru ling zhi) | ~18.75 g (5 qian) | Soak and rinse |
| Mini coconut (mi ni ye zi) | 1 | Cut into pieces and rinse |
| Carrot (hong luo bo) | 1 | Peel and chunk |
| Walnut halves (he tao rou) | 5 | — |
| Dried lily bulb (bai he) | ~37.5 g (1 liang) | Soak and rinse |
| Red dates (hong zao) | 6 | Pitted |
| Dried tangerine peel (chen pi) | 1 piece | — |
| Lean pork (shou rou) | ~300 g | Cut and blanch |
Method
- Cut the mini coconut into pieces and rinse; peel and chunk the carrot; soak and rinse the tiger milk mushroom and the other dried ingredients; pit the red dates.
- Cut the lean pork into chunks and blanch.
- Put everything into a pot with 8–9 bowls of water.
- Simmer for 2 hours, reducing down to about 4 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is clear, sweet and tasty, and suitable for old and young. It is especially kind to those in post-viral recovery whose lung energy is weak and who cough or wheeze easily, as well as long-term smokers. Taken regularly, it is traditionally said to ease various respiratory discomforts.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Karen): My son just got over influenza A but still has a bit of a runny nose and cough, especially coughing at night. Can I use tiger milk mushroom in soup? Can I make solomonseal with apple and pear soup? Bro Niu: If your son has no fever, you can use tiger milk mushroom in soup. Solomonseal-apple-pear water is more suited to daytime coughing. You could first simmer 2 batches of perilla-leaf, ginger and brown-sugar water to dispel cold and ease the cough.
- Q (anonymous): My 3-year-old has been ill three times and just finished antibiotics; the fever, cough and runny nose are now gone. What soup can help him recover, and how do I build his immunity and help him gain weight? Bro Niu: This tiger milk mushroom soup suits children very well after illness, helping to strengthen the body. You can also simmer Chinese yam, lotus seed, poria and euryale seed (about 1 liang each) with 2 pieces of tangerine peel and 6 red dates, together with partridge, lean pork or fresh fish — any non-greasy meat works — to support the spleen, appetite and absorption.
- Q (Liretta): Can this soup be given to a 9-month-old? My child has a lot of phlegm and a long-lasting cough. Bro Niu: A 9-month-old can drink it. For heavy phlegm, you can put perilla seed and radish seed (3 qian each) in a tea bag and simmer with lean-pork congee to feed as desired, which helps clear phlegm — take 3 batches in a row.
Published February 16, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
