Green-Core Black Bean, Goji Berry and Red Date Soup (Qing Ren Hei Dou Soup)

Why people make this soup

In traditional Chinese food therapy, black is the colour associated with the kidneys, and black beans have been eaten for centuries as a nourishing food for kidney health. But not all black beans are used the same way — the variety that keeps coming up in classical food-therapy texts is the “green-core” black bean (qing ren hei dou), which has green flesh inside its black skin rather than the yellow flesh of common black beans. Nourilo has checked multiple food-therapy references and they consistently specify this green-core variety for therapeutic use, so when shopping, look for the one with green insides.

When kidney vitality is well supported, traditional thinking says a number of things follow: stronger hair, clearer vision, a brighter complexion, and better energy overall. This soup is a straightforward way to incorporate that idea into everyday cooking — three simple ingredients, naturally sweet, no meat required.