Soups
Chayote, Carrot, Snow Fungus & Pork Shin Soup
traditionally used to ease inflammation and support immunity
Why people make this soup
Chayote is a year-round vegetable that suits any constitution. It is rich in dietary fibre, several vitamins and minerals, plus folate — good for gut health, immunity and the heart — and its high selenium content is traditionally linked to easing inflammation. With the weather swinging hot and cold, more delicate folk catch things easily, so a chayote soup makes a nice bit of conditioning. Paired with carrot and snow fungus, it’s a clear, sweet everyday soup traditionally used to ease inflammation, moisten the lung and soothe a cough. Chayote is available at Chinese or Asian grocers.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits old and young; mild and suitable for any constitution.
- Especially suitable for pregnant women who want more folate; taken regularly it helps build the constitution.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Chayote (he zhang gua): rich in fibre, vitamins, minerals and folate; its selenium is traditionally associated with easing inflammation.
- Carrot (gan sun): adds sweetness and nourishment.
- Snow fungus (xue er): moistening, traditionally used to soothe the lung and beautify the skin.
- Pork shin (zhu zhan): a clean, lean base.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chayote (he zhang gua) | 1 | peeled, cut into chunks |
| Carrot (gan sun) | 1 | peeled, cut into chunks |
| Snow fungus (xue er) | ~11 g (3 qian) | soaked soft, stems removed |
| Pork shin (zhu zhan) | 1 | cut, blanched |
Method
- Peel and chunk the chayote and carrot.
- Soak the snow fungus until soft and trim off the hard stems.
- Cut the pork shin and blanch it briefly.
- Put everything in 7–8 bowls of water and simmer for about 1.5 hours until reduced to 4–5 bowls.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is clear and sweet and old and young can enjoy it. It’s a good choice for pregnant women who need more folate, and taken regularly it helps build the constitution and supports graceful aging.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Sum): Are chuan bei and chuan bei mu the same thing? Does it need to be crushed? Bro Niu: Chuan bei is chuan bei mu; crushing it before cooking releases its character better.
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Q (Sum): A relative’s check-up found a few-millimetre spot in the lung, too small to identify yet, plus a benign breast tumour and a cyst — both to be rechecked in six months. With lung cancer in the family she’s worried. What soup could help, and which foods to favour or avoid? Bro Niu: With nodules, keep to regular check-ups, stay optimistic, and eat less oily, fried and spicy food — don’t over-worry. For food therapy, simmer about 11 g chuan bei mu, 19 g fu ling, 1 whole chen pi and 11 g dan shen in 5 bowls of water for 30 minutes, one dose every other day — traditionally used to help soften lumps anywhere in the body. Daily sunshine, gentle exercise, good sleep, a calm mind and more whole grains all help.
Published March 22, 2026 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
