Soups

Fresh Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb and Winter Melon Soup

Traditionally cools summer heat and supports the spleen

In short: Fresh Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb and Winter Melon Soup is a soup that Traditionally cools summer heat and supports the spleen. It is most often made for digestive wellness, cooling & summer heat, skin & natural beauty. Total time about 1 hr 45 min. Key ingredients: lotus seeds, lily bulb, ginger, lean pork.

Prep
15 min
Cook
1 hr 30 min
Total
1 hr 45 min
Makes
1.2 L
Fresh Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb and Winter Melon Soup

Why people make this soup

When the weather turns hot and muggy, winter melon is the pot’s anchor — one of the most cooling vegetables in traditional Cantonese cooking. Paired with fresh lotus seed and lily bulb, which are available at Chinese or Asian grocers when in season, a big pot of this soup is far more than a sweet dessert: it is a savoury, nourishing bowl traditionally associated with clearing summer heat, supporting the spleen, settling a restless heart and easing fitful sleep.

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.

  • Lotus seeds · Randomized crossover trial, 10 participants · 2019
    Lotus seed meals had a low glycemic index (GI 21–51 across the lotus seed and adzuki bean meals), while several other starchy foods did not differ significantly from rice. Lotus seed's in vitro hydrolysis index was also lower than that of other test foods.Limitation: Only ten healthy participants and acute single-meal tests, so findings may not apply to people with diabetes or to long-term intake.PubMed 30875961
  • Ginger · Meta-analysis, 23 studies · 2022
    Overall, acute and delayed nausea and vomiting did not differ significantly between ginger and control groups. A subgroup taking 1 g/day or less for over four days had less acute vomiting (OR 0.30).Limitation: Clinical heterogeneity between trials required subgroup analyses, and the authors state that sufficiently large, high-quality RCTs are still needed.PubMed 36501010 · 3 more ginger studies
  • Red dates · Meta-analysis, 483 participants · 2025
    Jujube was associated with significantly lower BMI and triglycerides, and lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. LDL and total cholesterol fell only in some subgroups. HDL, AST and ALT did not change significantly.Limitation: The authors state the overall quality of the evidence is limited, and results varied significantly by dose, treatment duration and disease type.PubMed 40399274 · 3 more red dates 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.

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

Members only

Unlock the full method & Nourilo's tips

One payment, lifetime access to every one of our 2,344 recipes — step-by-step methods, preparation tips and serving notes.

  • Full step-by-step method for this and all 2,344 recipes
  • Nourilo's Tips — sourcing, substitutions and serving notes
  • One-time payment · card, Apple Pay or Google Pay · no subscription, no renewals

Checking your access…

Spot an error? Report a correction

Comments

Loading comments…