Coconut Ball, Lily Bulb and Chestnut Soup

Why people make this soup

In Chinese food therapy, autumn dryness and winter heating alike can leave lungs feeling parched and skin looking dull. The Indian “coconut ball” is a small variety of coconut that fits neatly into a family-sized pot, carries a richer coconut fragrance than a full-sized variety, and is said to be gentle enough for people who need to watch their blood sugar. Paired with fresh lily bulb, sweet chestnuts and carrot, the result is a soup that is naturally sweet, light on the palate and genuinely pleasant for all ages. Indian coconut balls are available at Chinese or Asian grocers, or online.

Traditional food-therapy texts associate this combination with helping with dry coughs without phlegm, dry skin, mild urinary discomfort, and low milk supply in nursing mothers. Think of it as a gentle, everyday nourishing soup rather than a medicinal formula.

Method

1. Rinse all ingredients. Ask your supplier to split the coconut ball, or cut it yourself into large chunks; no need to remove the thin brown flesh.
2. Peel and chop the carrot into rough chunks. Pit the red dates.
3. Blanch the lean pork in boiling water for a few minutes, then rinse under cold water to remove any impurities.
4. Place the coconut chunks, chestnuts, carrot, red dates and pork into a pot with 2.4 L of cold water.
5. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
6. Add the fresh lily bulb petals and continue simmering for a further 10 minutes.
7. Season lightly with salt if desired. Serve the soup and eat the solid ingredients together.

Nourilo’s Tips

• When buying Indian coconut balls, always ask the supplier to cut one open so you can check the interior is white and fresh. The exterior gives very little away; a mouldy inside is common in stock that has been sitting too long.
• If you prefer a vegetarian version, most legumes or a small handful of mixed nuts can stand in for the pork and will still add body to the soup.
• This is a moist, mildly sweet soup — good for skin care as well as lung support, and suitable for people who tend to run dry rather than damp. Those who feel easily bloated or phlegm-prone may find it less suitable.