Soups
Green Papaya, Carrot, Fig and Pork Rib Soup
Traditionally clears heat, moistens the lungs and supports immunity
Why people make this soup
Bro Niu here. With a major sporting event on, many of us end up glued to late-night broadcasts. The toll of staying up shows quickly — dry, tired eyes, dry skin, a hot, irritable feeling, puffy gums — and over the long run it can wear down your resistance. This green papaya, carrot, fig and pork rib soup is a clear, moistening bowl I like to recommend to the night-owl crowd.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People who have been staying up late and feel dry and run-down
- Traditionally considered well suited to new mothers and breastfeeding mothers
- Pregnant women are traditionally advised to avoid papaya
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Green papaya (qing mu gua): Rich in vitamins; traditionally enjoyed by nursing mothers.
- Carrot (gan sun): A source of carotenoids, traditionally associated with eye health.
- Southern apricot kernel (nan xing): Traditionally used to moisten the lungs.
- Fig (wu hua guo): Traditionally associated with supporting digestion and easing the throat.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Green papaya | 1 | Peel, deseed, cut into pieces |
| Carrot | 1 | Peel and cut into pieces |
| Southern apricot kernels | ~40 g | Soak and rinse |
| Dried figs | 4 | Rinse and halve |
| Pork ribs | ~300 g | Blanch |
Method
- Peel and deseed the green papaya and cut into pieces. Peel the carrot and cut into pieces.
- Soak and rinse the apricot kernels. Rinse the figs and cut in half. Blanch the pork ribs.
- Put all the ingredients into 8 bowls of water and cook for about an hour and a half, reducing to 4 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is clear and naturally sweet, fine for young and old. The ingredients are rich in vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Note: pregnant women should not use papaya, but it is well suited to new mothers and breastfeeding mothers.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (May): My stomach was uncomfortable recently and improved a lot after taking a stomach remedy. Now that the bloating is better, is there a soup I can make day to day to nurture the stomach and reduce flare-ups? Bro Niu: You can often use the “four spirits” pork rib soup. The four spirits are Chinese yam (huai shan), poria (fu ling), lotus seed (lian zi) and euryale seed (qian shi); add red dates and dried tangerine peel and simmer with pork ribs or any meat. It is traditionally used to support the spleen and stomach and aid digestion.
- Q (May): If I have a cough, can I still drink the four-spirits soup? Bro Niu: If you have a cough but no fever, yes — adding two pieces of dried tangerine peel and about 40 g of lily bulb makes it even better.
Published July 26, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
