Soups
Dried-Cabbage, Carrot and Duck-Gizzard Soup
Traditionally moistens dryness and eases a dry cough
Why people make this soup
When the air turns dry, Bro Niu reaches for cabbage soup — long-simmered for a good three hours, it is both soothing and safe for a body carrying a bit of heat in the lungs and stomach. Add some apricot kernels and the moistening, cough-easing effect is even better. Dried cabbage paired with carrot, apricot kernels, figs and dried duck gizzard makes a soup that traditionally moistens dryness and helps settle a dry, tickly cough.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits the whole family during dry autumn weather; the source notes it is also helpful for internal heat showing as headache, sore throat, sore eyes or constipation.
- Simmer at least 2 hours so it is not too cooling. If a child tends to cough from cold, add a couple of slices of ginger. Safe for pregnant women, per the source.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Dried cabbage (cai gan): traditionally clears heat and relieves dryness when simmered long enough.
- Carrot (gan sun): adds natural sweetness; can be swapped for green radish, which traditionally moistens the lungs and soothes the throat.
- Apricot kernels (nan bei xing): traditionally moisten the lungs and ease cough.
- Dried figs (wu hua guo): add gentle sweetness and are associated with soothing the throat.
- Dried duck gizzard (chen ya shen): gives savoury depth; can be replaced with lean pork or pork bone.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried Chinese cabbage (cai gan) | ~75 g (2 taels) | soak and rinse |
| Carrot (gan sun) | 1 | peel and cut into chunks |
| Apricot kernels (nan bei xing) | ~38 g (1 tael) | |
| Dried figs (wu hua guo) | 5 | |
| Dried duck gizzard (chen ya shen) | 2 | or lean pork / pork bone |
| Water | 10 bowls | reduce to 4–5 |
Method
- Soak and rinse the dried cabbage and dried duck gizzard. Peel the carrot and cut into chunks.
- Put everything in a pot with 10 bowls of water.
- Simmer about 3 hours, down to 4–5 bowls.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup suits all ages. If you cannot find dried duck gizzard, use lean pork or pork shin bone instead; supermarket gizzards are fine even if smaller. You can also add a piece of fresh Chinese cabbage for extra clearing-and-soothing effect.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (anonymous): How many servings is this soup? Bro Niu: This soup suits 4–5 people.
- Q (anonymous): Can a pregnant woman drink it? Bro Niu: Yes, this soup is fine for pregnant women.
- Q (Dinomine): If I leave out the carrot, what can I use instead? Bro Niu: You can use green radish, which traditionally moistens the lungs and soothes the throat.
Published November 2, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
