Soups
Green and Red Radish, Water Chestnut and Pork Shin Soup
Traditionally clears heat, quenches thirst and is associated with supporting healthy blood pressure
Why people make this soup
When the weather turns hot, Bro Niu does not feel like heavy, greasy tonic soups. This one is the answer: a couple of radishes plus half a catty of water chestnuts simmered with pork shin gives you a clear, sweet bowl that cools you down and quenches thirst. Folk wisdom also says green radish helps the body clear coal-gas exposure, so households that cook with gas like to make it now and then.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- A gentle, mild soup; even people with a weaker constitution can enjoy it.
- Traditionally welcomed by those troubled by high blood pressure, mouth and tongue soreness, or sluggish urination.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Green radish (qing luo bo): traditionally clears heat and is said to help the body clear coal-gas exposure.
- Carrot (hong luo bo): adds natural sweetness and nourishment.
- Water chestnut (ma ti): traditionally cools, quenches thirst and is associated with supporting blood pressure.
- Pork shin (zhu zhan): a lean cut that gives body without heaviness.
- Ginger (sheng jiang): warms slightly to balance the cooling vegetables.
Ingredients (about 4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Green radish | 1 | peeled, sliced |
| Carrot | 1 | peeled, sliced |
| Water chestnuts | ~300 g | peeled |
| Pork shin | 1 piece | blanched |
| Ginger | 2 slices |
Method
- Peel and slice the green radish and carrot; peel the water chestnuts.
- Blanch the pork shin in boiling water to remove scum.
- Put everything in a pot with 8 bowls of water.
- Simmer about 2 hours until reduced to roughly 4 bowls. Eat the soup together with the contents.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is mild and balanced, so even those who are weaker can drink it. It is also a help to people troubled by high blood pressure, mouth and tongue soreness, or difficult urination.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (reader): Can dried sea coconut replace the water chestnut? And if I skip the meat, do I use red dates instead? Bro Niu: Yes, dried sea coconut works. To replace the meat, red dates plus figs are both nourishing and tasty.
- Q (heimin): Can I add corn? Bro Niu: Yes, you can add corn.
- Q (reader): What soup can I drink often to boost immunity? Bro Niu: A gentle immunity soup: 1 tael astragalus (bei qi), 4 qian goji berries, 15 red dates, simmered from 6 bowls of water down to 3–4 bowls. You can add lean pork.
Published July 28, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
