Soups
Bamboo Fungus, Wood Ear & Fish Maw Soup
Traditionally clears heat, drains dampness and supports a slimmer figure
Why people make this soup
When the weather warms up, many women start worrying about their figure — summer clothes are thin, and a bit of extra weight shows fast. So summer is a good time for soups traditionally associated with a slimmer figure. Bamboo fungus is the gem here: nourishing, traditionally said to help with belly-wall fat, and a natural flavour-booster that makes the whole pot taste richer. Paired with shiitake, wood ear, poria, beans and a little thin fish maw, it makes a wholesome, beauty-friendly everyday soup.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People wanting a nourishing, light soup in warm weather; suitable for young and old; also for those watching blood pressure and blood lipids.
- People with kidney-weakness and frequent night urination should go easy on it.
- People with gout should be cautious — beans and mushrooms are higher in purines.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Bamboo fungus (zhu sheng): Nourishing and traditionally associated with supporting a slimmer waistline; also a natural umami enhancer.
- Wood ear & shiitake (hei mu er, xiang gu): Wood ear is traditionally associated with smoothing the bowels; both add depth and nutrients.
- Poria, soybeans, hyacinth beans, mung beans, Job’s tears: Traditionally associated with draining dampness and clearing heat.
- Thin fish maw (bao hua jiao): A gentle, beauty-friendly collagen-rich ingredient; tangerine peel keeps the beans easy to digest.
Ingredients (4 to 5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bamboo fungus (zhu sheng) | ~11 g | |
| Shiitake mushrooms | 3–4 | Stems removed |
| Black wood ear | 1 | Stem removed |
| Poria (fu ling) | ~15 g | |
| Soybeans | ~38 g | |
| Hyacinth beans | ~38 g | |
| Mung beans | ~38 g | |
| Job’s tears (yi mi) | ~38 g | |
| Dried tangerine peel | 1 piece | |
| Thin fish maw | ~38 g | |
| Lean pork | ~300 g | Blanched |
| Water | 8 bowls |
Method
- Blanch the lean pork. Soak and rinse the rest; de-stem the wood ear and shiitake.
- Put everything into a pot with 8 bowls of water and bring to a rolling boil.
- Lower to a medium-gentle heat and simmer 2 hours. Eat the soup with the solids.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is traditionally associated with clearing summer heat, draining dampness and easing puffiness — good for young and old. Cook it with winter melon, corn and duck for an even nicer result. But people with kidney-weakness and frequent night urination should go easy. If you skip the fish maw, use dried scallop or dried conch instead; if you skip the bamboo fungus, use mushrooms like agaricus blazei or dried straw mushrooms — tasty, wholesome and low in calories.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Zen): If I don’t use bamboo fungus, what can replace it? Bro Niu: Use some mushrooms instead — agaricus blazei, dried straw mushroom and so on — wholesome, tasty and low in calories.
- Q (Wen Yu): If I don’t use fish maw, what can I use instead? Bro Niu: You can use dried scallop or dried conch instead.
- Q (Amy): Can someone with diabetes eat fish maw? Bro Niu: With diabetes, you can eat fish maw in moderation if you have the appetite.
Published May 7, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
