Soups
Green Radish, Amla and Corn Soup
Traditionally soothes the throat and supports healthy blood lipids, sugar and pressure
Why people make this soup
Many people dislike the slightly peppery bite of green radish, but Bro Niu says cooks who use gas at home should reach for it now and then — it is traditionally seen as soothing for the throat and helpful against gas fumes. That faint pungency comes from mustard-oil compounds, which are associated with stirring the gut to move waste along and supporting healthy blood lipids, blood sugar, supple vessels and blood pressure. Paired with amla and corn, this soup is traditionally used to soothe the throat and support those minding the three highs.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People minding blood lipids, blood sugar or blood pressure, or wanting a lighter soup; also seen as helpful for weight management
- A gentle, clear soup suitable for young and old
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Green radish (qing luo bo): traditionally used to soothe the throat and support digestion and healthy circulation
- Amla (you gan zi): sweet-then-cooling fruit traditionally used to soothe the throat
- Corn (su mi): adds natural sweetness and is associated with supporting fluid balance
- Figs (wu hua guo): add gentle sweetness and are associated with soothing the throat
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Green radish | 1 | peeled, cut in chunks |
| Amla | ~113 g (3 liang) | washed, lightly cracked with the flat of a knife |
| Corn | 2 cobs | husked, cut up |
| Figs | 4 | rinsed |
| Pork shoulder bone | ~300 g (half jin) | blanched |
Method
- Peel the green radish and cut into chunks. Wash the amla and lightly crack it with the flat of a knife.
- Husk the corn and cut up; rinse the figs; blanch the pork shoulder bone.
- Put everything in a pot with 9 bowls of water and simmer 2 hours down to 4–5 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is clear and tasty, suitable for young and old. It is also traditionally seen as helpful for weight management and is well suited to those minding the three highs.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Ping Ping): My 10-year-old often has stomach gas — how should I help him? Bro Niu: His digestion may be on the weaker side, so cut down on cold/raw food and iced drinks, and ease off gas-forming foods like beans and peanuts for now. Try sha ren ~8 g, 1 piece chen pi, xiang fu ~8 g in 4 bowls of water down to 2, for 3 batches; a little honey makes it tastier. (He noted that for a child with G6PD deficiency these herbs are fine to use.)
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Q (anonymous): My child has had a cold for a few days — still some runny nose, a few coughs with lots of phlegm, and it feels like post-nasal drip. What soup clears phlegm? Bro Niu: Use a quarter of a luo han guo, dried snow-pear slices and 8 xin yi hua (magnolia flower) simmered as a tea, which traditionally helps ease phlegm and cough and dry up a runny nose.
Published May 7, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
