Bitter Melon Soybean Shiitake Pork Rib Soup (Ku Gua Huang Dou Dong Gu Pai Gu Tang)

Why people make this soup

When the weather turns muggy — damp and hot — Nourilo says the body easily runs “hot”: flare-ups, heatiness, that overheated feeling. In traditional thinking summer belongs to the fire element and connects to the heart, so an over-active “heart fire” is common. Since “bitter enters the heart,” bitter melons and gourds are eaten in summer to settle that fire. Simmered with soybean, shiitake and pork ribs, the soup is lightly bitter and fragrant, and is also enjoyed for slimming support and to help maintain healthy blood pressure and blood sugar.