Soups
Fresh Yam Guava Corn Pork Shin Soup (Xian Huai Shan Ba Le Su Mi Zhu Zhan Tang)
Traditionally supports healthy blood sugar and the 'three highs'
Why people make this soup
Bro Niu offers this everyday soup for the “three highs” — high blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipids — and especially for those watching their sugar. Fresh yam’s natural mucilage is traditionally associated with supporting blood-vessel health, and the root is a favourite food-therapy choice for people minding their blood sugar. Guava, though less sweet than other fruit, is well regarded for supporting healthy blood sugar, while white-jade corn lends a clean, fragrant sweetness. Simmered with pork shin, all the ingredients are edible, making it a wholesome soup the whole family can share.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People watching their blood sugar and mindful of the “three highs”; suitable for the whole family, and especially good for the middle-aged and older.
- A wholesome, mild soup with no strong cautions noted in the source.
- Not a substitute for prescribed medication.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Fresh yam (huai shan): Its mucilage is traditionally associated with supporting healthy blood vessels and blood sugar; strengthens the spleen.
- Guava (ba le): Traditionally regarded as helping support healthy blood sugar.
- White-jade corn (bai yu su mi): Naturally sweet and fragrant; rounds out the soup.
- Pork shin (zhu zhan): Lean meat that gives the soup body and nourishment.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh yam | 1 root | Peeled, cut into thick strips (wear gloves) |
| Guava | 2 | Rinsed, chunked |
| White-jade corn | 2 cobs | Husked, chunked |
| Pork shin | 1 piece | Chunked, blanched |
Method
- Peel the fresh yam and cut into thick strips; rinse and chunk the guava; husk and chop the corn.
- Cut the pork shin into chunks and blanch.
- Simmer all ingredients in about 8 cups of water for 1.5 hours, until reduced to 4–5 bowls. Eat the soup and ingredients together.
Bro Niu’s tips
Fresh yam’s mucilage can sting the skin a little, so it is best to wear gloves when peeling. This soup suits all ages, and is especially well suited to the middle-aged and older.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (吴 / Ng): My mother has the “three highs” and store-bought bread spikes her blood sugar fast, yet she gets hungry between meals — any tips, and can she drink the gooseberry-burdock-carrot soup to help prevent stroke? Bro Niu: People watching blood sugar should go easy on sweets — use a sugar substitute or luo han guo sugar for any baking, and still not too much. When hungry, boiled corn makes a good snack, or soda crackers with an unsweetened spread like tuna. The Indian gooseberry, burdock and carrot soup is associated with supporting healthy blood sugar and tastes good — about twice a week.
- Q (reader): An elderly family member has shingles on the hand and has seen a Western doctor — what can I cook for them? Bro Niu: Buy fresh purslane (ma chi xian) from a herb stall, ~75 g each time, and simmer with mung bean. Boil ~37.5 g mung bean in 6 cups of water for half an hour, add the purslane, simmer a further 20 minutes down to 2 bowls; take for three days running.
Published June 30, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
