Nourilo

Sweet Soups & Desserts

Lily Bulb and Sweet Almond Steamed Pear

Traditionally associated with moistening the lungs, calming the mind and soothing a dry cough

In short: Lily Bulb and Sweet Almond Steamed Pear is a sweet soups & dessert that Traditionally associated with moistening the lungs, calming the mind and soothing a dry cough. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, skin & natural beauty, sleep & calm. Total time about 70 min. Key ingredients: lily bulb, honey.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
10 min
Cook
60 min
Total
70 min
Makes
1 serving
Respiratory & Lung WellnessSkin & Natural BeautySleep & CalmEveryday Balance
Lily Bulb and Sweet Almond Steamed Pear

Why people make this dish

Autumn in Cantonese culinary culture is pear season — and pears are considered one of the most natural, accessible remedies for the dryness that the season often brings. Most of the pear’s fibre and active compounds are concentrated in the skin, so Nourilo always recommends scrubbing the skin well and leaving it on rather than peeling. This steamed pear dish takes the classic pairing of pear with lily bulb (bai he) and sweet almond (nan xing) and turns them into something that looks as beautiful as it tastes — a whole hollowed pear filled with fragrant herbs and honey, gently steamed until soft. It is traditionally enjoyed for a dry, scratchy or persistent cough with little or no phlegm, for a restless or anxious mind at night, for mild constipation, or simply as a skin-nourishing autumn ritual.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Honey · Meta-analysis, 14 studies · 2021
    Compared with usual care, honey was associated with lower combined symptom scores, cough frequency and cough severity. In two pooled placebo-controlled studies, the difference in combined symptoms was not statistically significant.Limitation: Only two studies compared honey with placebo, with high heterogeneity (I2=91%); the review calls for higher-quality placebo-controlled trials.PubMed 32817011 · 3 more honey studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

  • Apricot kernels: Raw apricot kernels contain amygdalin, which turns into cyanide after eating. EFSA estimates that half of one small raw kernel can exceed the safe level for a toddler. Use no more than the recipe states, never eat them raw, and do not serve them to young children. Source: European Food Safety Authority
  • Honey: Never give honey to babies under 1 year old — it can cause infant botulism, a very serious illness. Source: NHS — Foods to avoid giving babies

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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