Purslane & Solo Garlic Soup

Why people make this soup

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a growing concern worldwide, and Cantonese food therapy has long included a practical answer: purslane (ma chi xian), a herb whose antibacterial reputation is well-documented in traditional Chinese medicine literature. Purslane is said to enter the large intestine, liver, and spleen meridians, and its antibacterial scope includes E. coli, Salmonella, dysentery bacillus, and Staphylococcus aureus — with particular effectiveness against bacterial dysentery, where traditional sources cite efficacy rates of 60–90%. Combined with solo garlic — which itself is traditionally considered effective against some 15 types of bacteria — this 20-minute soup is Bro Niu’s recommendation as a seasonal preventive when bacterial transmission risk is elevated.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable as a preventive soup for the whole family during warmer months when bacterial gut infections are more common
• Suitable for those experiencing bacterial diarrhea or dysentery (alongside medical care if severe)
• Those with a yin-deficient, heat-flaring constitution (intolerant to garlic) should omit the garlic and use purslane with lean pork only
• Purslane is slightly cold in nature, but garlic’s warming nature counterbalances this
• For serious or prolonged infection, please see a doctor

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Purslane (ma chi xian): Enters the large intestine, liver, and spleen meridians; traditionally associated with clearing heat, detoxifying, dispersing blood stasis, reducing swelling, and promoting urination; traditionally used against bacterial dysentery, E. coli, typhoid, and Staphylococcus; one of the most trusted antibacterial greens in Cantonese food therapy
• Solo garlic (du zi suan): Single-clove garlic contains significantly higher allicin concentrations than multi-clove garlic; allicin is the compound most associated with garlic’s antimicrobial properties; warm in nature, which moderates purslane’s coolness

Ingredients (3 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Fresh purslane	120–160 g	Wash well, cut into sections
Solo garlic	3–4 cloves	Peel and slice; or use 6–8 regular garlic cloves
Water	6 bowls (~1.5 L)

Method

1. Wash the fresh purslane thoroughly and cut into sections.
2. Peel the solo garlic (or regular garlic) and slice thinly.
3. Bring 6 bowls of water to a rolling boil.
4. Add the purslane and garlic slices; simmer for 20 minutes until about 3 bowls of broth remain.
5. Serve the soup and eat the cooked purslane and garlic together.

Bro Niu’s tips

Solo garlic contains significantly more allicin than regular multi-clove garlic. If you cannot find solo garlic, use regular garlic but double the quantity. Those with a yin-deficient constitution who are intolerant to garlic can omit the garlic and prepare purslane with lean pork instead — the herb alone still has a clearing and antibacterial effect. Fresh purslane is available at Chinese or Asian grocers and some health-food stores; it is worth asking your local store to stock it as they can usually source it.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (ling060625): I have just been diagnosed with antibiotic-resistant E. coli vaginal infection. Is there a herbal remedy that can help? Bro Niu: Use about 4 liang (approximately 160 g) of fresh purslane to simmer a garlic and lean pork soup for 20 minutes. Try to eat some of the purslane as well as the broth. Drink for 3 consecutive days, pause for 2 days, then drink another 2–3 days.

• Q (simsim): My mother, 80 years old, has been hospitalised multiple times with different bacterial urinary tract infections. What soup would be appropriate for her? Bro Niu: This purslane and garlic soup would be suitable — once or twice a week. Although purslane is cooling, the garlic’s warming nature moderates it, and the combination is still strongly antibacterial. An alternative is to simmer fresh cogon grass root (mao gen), raw coix seed (sheng yi mi), and honey dates, which also has a diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect.

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Published May 5, 2018 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.