Soups
Hairy Gourd, Broad Bean, Soybean and Dried Oyster Pork Rib Soup
traditionally associated with supporting mental clarity and cognitive vitality
Why people make this soup
Research has pointed to tyrosine — an amino acid — as important for both adults and children in supporting mood regulation and nervous system function. When the body’s tyrosine levels run low, people may experience low energy, mental fogginess, difficulty handling stress, and in some cases low blood pressure or a sluggish metabolism. Foods naturally rich in tyrosine include milk and dairy products, beef, legumes such as soybeans and broad beans, pineapple, banana, figs, dried oysters, abalone and sea fish. Bro Niu put together this nourishing soup around several of those very ingredients — making a flavourful, everyday pot that the whole family can share with confidence.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits most healthy adults, the elderly, and children as part of a balanced diet.
- The soup is naturally sweet and mild — pleasant for the whole household.
- Important caution: People with favism (G6PD deficiency, 蚕豆症) must avoid broad beans entirely and should not drink this soup. Those with kidney disease or anxiety disorders should also avoid it, as noted by Bro Niu.
- Fresh or dried broad beans can be used — if using fresh shelled beans, add them in the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Hairy gourd / fuzzy melon (jie gua): A classic Cantonese summer vegetable, cool and gentle in nature, traditionally associated with clearing mild internal heat and supporting digestion. It gives the broth a natural sweetness.
- Broad beans / fava beans (can dou / Vicia faba): Rich in tyrosine, and in traditional food therapy also associated with supporting the spleen and stomach. Note: absolutely not suitable for those with G6PD deficiency.
- Soybeans (huang dou): Also rich in tyrosine and other amino acids; traditionally regarded as a wholesome, nourishing legume associated with supporting vitality and the spleen.
- Dried oysters (hao chi): A prized ingredient in Cantonese cooking, dried oysters concentrate the flavour of fresh oysters and are traditionally associated with nourishing the yin, supporting the blood, and calming the mind. They also contain zinc and other trace minerals.
- Figs (wu hua guo): Often added to Cantonese soups for their gentle sweetness and are traditionally associated with nourishing the lungs and harmonising the stomach.
- Ginger (sheng jiang): A few slices help to balance the cooling nature of the gourd and beans, and to support stomach comfort.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hairy gourd (jie gua) | 1 medium (approx. 400–500 g) | Scraped of outer skin, cut into chunks |
| Dried broad beans (can dou gan) | 40 g (1 liang) | Soaked and rinsed |
| Dried soybeans (huang dou) | 40 g (1 liang) | Soaked and rinsed |
| Dried oysters (hao chi) | 80 g (2 liang) | Soaked and rinsed |
| Fresh ginger | 2 slices | |
| Dried figs | 3 pieces | |
| Pork ribs | 300 g (half jin) | Blanched |
| Water | 8 bowls (approx. 1.6 L) |
Method
- Blanch the pork ribs in boiling water for 3–5 minutes; rinse and set aside.
- Soak the dried broad beans, soybeans and dried oysters separately in cold water for 30–60 minutes; rinse thoroughly.
- Scrape the hairy gourd with a peeler to remove the outer skin; cut into large chunks.
- Place all ingredients into a pot with 8 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a medium-low simmer.
- Simmer for 2 hours until the liquid reduces to about 4 bowls.
- Serve hot — both the soup and the solid ingredients are delicious to eat.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is naturally sweet and satisfying — children and elderly family members will enjoy it. The key caution to remember is that anyone with G6PD deficiency (favism) must strictly avoid broad beans and cannot drink this soup. The same applies to those with kidney disease or anxiety disorders. For a larger family of around 10 people, Bro Niu advises simply doubling each ingredient to 2 liang. Fresh shelled broad beans can also be used in season — add them in the last 30 minutes. Dried broad beans are available at southern-goods shops (nan huo dian).
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (家嘉妈咪): Can I use fresh peeled broad beans instead of dried ones? Bro Niu: Yes, that is perfectly fine.
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Q (Carol): My father has Parkinson’s disease and anxiety disorder — can he drink this soup? Also, where can I buy dried broad beans in Hong Kong? Bro Niu: People with anxiety disorder should avoid this soup. For Parkinson’s and anxiety, try a congee or tea made with wheat grain (mai mi), lily bulb, longan flesh, uncaria vine (gou teng) and red dates — recent research suggests gou teng may be helpful for Parkinson’s. Gou teng can also be combined with chrysanthemum and simmered for 10 minutes as a daily tea. Dried broad beans are available at southern-goods shops.
Published August 9, 2014 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
